A/Prof Leanne Payne1,3, Dr Michael Lam3,4, Dr Mathew Anderson1, Ms Penny Dale2, Prof Ed Heffernan1,3
1Queensland Forensic Mental Health Service, Metro North Mental Health, Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane, Australia, 2Metro North Mental Health, Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane, Australia, 3School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia, 4Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, Wacol, Australia
Biography:
Penny Dale is a local Turrbal woman born and raised in Metro North and is the inaugural Director of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health for Metro North Mental Health. Penny holds a Master of Social Work and her career reflects a deep commitment to improving equity and social justice outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, with extensive experience across health, mental health, social housing and education support in both identified and mainstream positions with Local, State and National focus. Penny has experience in mental health policy and research activities and publications.
Abstract:
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are disproportionately represented among those experiencing suicide-related crises requiring emergency service contact. Understanding the health service pathways that follow these crises is essential to informing culturally safe models of care and supporting efforts to Close the Gap in suicide prevention and mental health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This retrospective population-based matched cohort study compared demographic characteristics, clinical profiles, emergency department outcomes and subsequent health service utilisation among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous Queenslanders following suicide-related emergency service contact. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people had higher rates of substance use, schizophrenia-spectrum and personality disorder diagnoses, but were also more likely to have no recorded public mental health diagnosis. Although previous studies have reported inequities in emergency department care, this matched cohort found no differences in ED triage, admission or discharge outcomes. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were, however, significantly more likely to leave before completion of care. Following the index event, they were more likely to have contact with public mental health services within 14 days, but substantially less likely to access Medicare-funded services or Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme-supported medications. These findings identify opportunities for earlier, culturally safe intervention following suicide-related crises, supporting continuity of care and improved mental health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.