MUDRIH Mental Health Program Aims
Formally established in 2009 the program aims to:
- increase access to mental health services for rural and remote Australians
- improve the ability of health professionals to recognise and deal with mental health issues among their clients and patients
- increase the awareness of mental health issues among people living in rural and remote areas
- provide mentoring and supervision for undergraduate and postgraduate students of mental health disciplines within the MUDRIH footprint.
Research
Rural Mental Health Workforce
Addressing the challenges rural and remote service providers face in recruiting and retaining specialist mental health professionals is a key focus of the mental health team at MUDRIH. The Mental Health Vacation School is a novel recruitment strategy developed by the Mental Health unit and is the subject of a longitudinal research study.
Mental Health Vacation School
In partnership with mental health service providers in Gippsland, MUDRIH offers third and fourth year allied health and nursing undergraduate, honors and postgraduate students the opportunity to broaden their understanding of the mental health field, become aware of the range of mental health services provided in Gippsland and explore career opportunities with potential employers in the region.
The vacation school program aims to:
- orient potential mental health professionals to the region and the mental health employment opportunities, employers and colleagues in the region
- inform participants about the extent of professional work being done and available in the field, challenge negative perceptions and build positive attitudes towards working in mental health in Gippsland
- initiate personal relationships between the participants (potential employees) and organisations (potential employers) delivering services in the region, and ultimately to
- motivate participants to consider working in the region.
For further information please email: mhvacationschool.mudrih@monash.edu
2013 Vacation School
Registrations are now open and will close on the 17th May. Click here to register your expression of interest.
Indigenous mental health
The mental health team at MUDRIH has expertise in research involving Indigenous people and Indigenous suicide. Their research focuses on the following areas:
- Help seeking for mental health problems
- Mental health services for Aboriginal people
- Mental Health literacy of Aboriginal people and
- Aboriginal suicide prevention strategies
Parental mental illness
Research focuses upon vulnerable families, particularly with regard to the impact of parental problems (such as mental illness and/or substance abuse) on children. The central aim is to reduce the cycle of mental health problems in families. Lead researchers Associate Professor Maybery, Dr. Andrea Reupert and Dr Mel Goodyear have a combined total of over 30 publications, grant income over $3,000,000 and seven HDR students working on various projects in this area. The research group is nationally and internationally recognised for its original and innovative contribution to the field of parental mental health and the impact of parental mental illness on parenting and children. Key research partners include The National COPMI initiative, The Bouverie Centre – La Trobe University, the Victorian Government FaPMI strategy and The Parenting Research Centre.
Training
The Mental Health unit facilitates and hosts a range of training and events throughout the year. See the MUDRIH Short Courses page and Events Calendar for details of up and coming training and events.
Program Evaluation
The Mental Health unit is keen to assist rural and remote services evaluate their programs. The team has experience and expertise in working with service providers and government departments evaluate undertake new and existing programs.
