Ever wondered how research informs mental health policy and planning?

The first two seminars in this inaugural CMHR Seminar Series are designed to provide participants with knowledge and skills in a systems thinking approach to mental health planning.

In the first seminar participants will learn how to use the Description, Evaluation and Classification of services for Long Term Care (DESDE-LTC) instrument in the assessment of mental health services. Participants will be provided with examples of the DESDE-LTC application internationally and nationally. The standard assessment of services facilitates territorial comparisons, which is crucial for evidence-informed health planning and resource allocation.

In the second seminar a series of lectures introduces participants to the application of classification systems in the Commonwealth Government and State/Territory Governments. Examples from State Government representatives will outline how policies are translated into mental health planning.  This seminar explores a systems approach to mental health planning and provides a platform for moving forward.

Topics

Seminar A

• The DESDE-LTC System for coding and mapping mental health services.
• Use of DESDE-LTC: Guided cases.
• Use of Geographical Information Systems in mental health care.
• The Atlas of Mental Health Care project. International development, implementation and practical experiences in Australia.

Seminar B

• Accountability and evidence-informed mental health care planning.
• The implementation gap in eMHealth.
• Practical experiences in the use of modelling and smart Decision Support Systems in mental health planning.
• An update on the WHO family of International Classification (WHO-FIC): Implications for mental health planning in Australia.
• National Mental Health Service Planning Framework (NMHSPF) and its application in policy and planning in Australia.
• Translating national policies into local planning. A perspective from Capital Health Network- ACT.
• Translating national policies into urban and rural State planning. A perspective from Western Australia.