About this project
This project aimed to strengthen trauma-informed practice in mental health and wellbeing services through the development of practical implementation supports and resources. Phoenix Australia – Centre for Posttraumatic Mental Health collaborated with two Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals and the Women's Recovery Network to adapt best practice and implementation activities to the day-to-day service delivery realities in mental health.
Service system solutions and implementation support tools were designed together with service providers and the communities they serve. The services involved in the pilot programs have innovative models and support people that experience structural disadvantage and find it difficult to engage in more traditional mental health services. For example, the Women's Recovery Network provides a Hospital in the Home (HiTH) program. HiTH models of care provide acute mental health support within a consumer’s home, often reducing the length of stay in hospital or replacing the need for a hospital admission. Mental Health and wellbeing Locals offer accessible community-based mental health support and promote peer-led engagement in service provision. The experience of collaborating services in creating programs that meet clients’ needs within their own community and context informed the tools and learnings from this project.