Background and aims: Cognitive and communication stimulation therapy is based on the premise that engagement in a group setting which focuses on stimulation of language and pragmatic skills may be useful in assisting with institutionalised behaviours of patients residing in mental health facilities. Furthermore this form of engagement assists with providing more quality of life for said patients. A group program was developed for inpatients on a psychogeriatric unit to provide regular weekly interactions providing the mentioned communication and social interaction with a multidisciplinary team facilitated by an Enrolled Nurse and Speech Pathologist. It was identified that many patients showed little to no functional or spontaneous communication, and when some interactions were prompted a number of concerns were identified regarding dislike of prescribed texture modified diets. To address this, a weekly cooking group was scheduled to focus on communication at mealtimes.

Method: The group program ran for 8 weeks. Pre and post assessments of informal communication skills were carried out, along with each patient’s mood being assessed pre and post every session.

Results: Participants showed an average increase in spontaneous communication of 125% over the 8 week period. Participants reported increased interest in meals and showed increased participation in food preparation.

Conclusions: Initial results showed that a focussing on communication and the associated benefits around mood when communicating, combined with an activity of daily living (cooking) may benefit psychogeriatric patients in a range of ways, and may also assist with increasing overall quality of life. Research is ongoing to refine the interventions and evaluate against control groups. Furthermore the research will be expanded to include involvement by a Neuropsychologist to continue to increase measures and increase patient outcomes (more specifically around communication, cognition, behaviour and mood)

Receiving a diagnosis of mental illness can be a most distressing experience that can cause some people and their families to retreat from the world. Many people who are diagnosed with a mental illness may struggle to deal with the episodic nature of mental illness and adjust to a new daily regime that includes medication, treatment, and in some cases hospitalisation. Periods of wellness may be punctuated with periods of illness. Loss of employment or incapacity to study may affect a person’s sense of identity, feelings of personal self-worth and perspective on their standing within society, their family or community. Families can find it difficult to cope with the change that comes with a diagnosis of mental illness - the new role of caring and not know where to get help.
For those whose second language is English, a diagnosis of mental illness can have many complexities. Access to information in their own language, good care and treatment that accommodates different cultural perspectives and understanding around mental illness and other cultural and gender-specific needs may not be readily available. For families and carers a lack of knowledge of the mental health system in Australia and fear to ask for help or to reveal the illness within an extended family or community can also create barriers to help-seeking and recovery.
So how do we support people from culturally diverse backgrounds to reach out for help?

Our presentation will discuss the issues that impact people of culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) backgrounds when there is a diagnosis of mental illness; personal stories from the lived experience as a multicultural consumer and carer; and cover a range of strategies that will help move from illness to recovery and a life beyond the cocoon of mental illness.

Aims: Greater Metro South Brisbane Medicare Local (GMSBML) identified a need to address the mental health needs of the large and growing Pasifika and Maori population in the Logan region. These population groups are underrepresented in national and state statistics due to data collection issues, which impacts on the availability and appropriateness of services. The Pasifika and Maori Mental Health Forum was designed to gain a deeper understanding of the barriers that affect these population groups’ capacity to access mental health services and to develop community-led solutions and advocacy tools.

Methods: Ethnic-specific breakout caucus sessions were held and facilitated by community members from Maori, Samoan, Tongan, Fijian, Cook Islands, and youth and health service provider groups. Approximately 250 community members attended the events. A thematic analysis is currently being conducted on the content of the forum.

Findings: Preliminary analysis of the findings have highlighted a number of themes that require an increased focus in the mental health area, including: service integration, Pasifika and Maori workforce development, a holistic perspective and approach to wellbeing, stigma, a family approach to mental health, early intervention, youth, ethnic-specific interventions, and the need to address this ‘invisible’ population which is underrepresented in national and state statistics.

So what: Findings from the forum will provide GMSBML and other relevant health service providers gain a greater understanding of the mental health needs of Pasifika and Maori people in the Logan region and inform appropriate planning for culturally responsive mental health services the future.