Authors: Jan Kilicaslan, Marnie Bell
Year: 2017
Event: 2017 TheMHS Conference
Subject: Reducing Stigma and Discrimination,Research & Evaluation Informing Practice,Change, Innovation, Reform
Type of resource: Conference Presentations and Papers
Abstract: St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne Mental Health Department is currently in the process of achieving National Rainbow Tick Accreditation, a framework developed by Gay and Lesbian Health Victoria and Quality Innovation Performance, to assist organisations in implementing standardised, inclusive service delivery for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Intersex (LGBTQI+) identifying persons. St Vincent’s Mental Health is a public service that provides inpatient, community based, and residential programs; and has not previously developed a best-practice strategy in working with LGBTQI+ consumers. In 2016, a decision was made to address this gap by obtaining Rainbow Tick accreditation, to embed diversity-inclusive, sensitive and equitable practices with LGBTQI+ consumers. This initiative involves staff training, gap analyses, establishing an internal LGBTQI+ Plan Steering Group, self-auditing, surveying staff and consumers, standardising service-wide practices, and an external assessment. Our aim is to build partnerships with LGBTQIA+ inclusive organisations, and to incorporate Co-production principles by utilising the expertise of those with a lived experience of gender diversity and mental illness. This project fits with our Statement of Priorities with the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services, our organisational values of Compassion, Justice, Integrity and Excellence, and our focus on serving persons experiencing mental illness, homelessness, substance use and who come from Indigenous backgrounds.
Learning Objectives
Learning Objective 1: People in the audience will gain an insight into how St Vincent’s Mental Health has developed an LGBTQI+ inclusive service delivery approach, and the practical implications of this initiative.
Learning Objective 2: This topic is central to the conversation on mental health issues and services. LGBTQI+ identity is linked with increased vulnerability to mental ill-health and psychosocial disadvantage, and should be addressed in clinical practice where relevant.
References
Kotter, J. P. (1996). Leading change. Harvard Business Press.
Hillier L et al., 2010, Writing Themselves In 3: The third national study on the sexual health and wellbeing of same sex attracted and gender questioning young people, Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University, Melbourne
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