EMHSCA resources and reports
Eastern Mental Health Service Coordination Alliance (EMHSCA) has developed a range of resources and guides to support collaborative work across the region.
A number of the guides have been designed and produced with input from individuals with lived experience on the subject matter.
On this page:
Telehealth in mental health videos
As a follow-up initiative to the Mental Health Access and Pathways project, EMHSCA has developed a four-part video series titled ‘An Exploration of Telehealth in Mental Health: Using client personas and journey maps to guide service enhancements’.
Using telehealth as an example, the videos demonstrate how personas and journey mapping from the project can be used to guide changes in service delivery.
The video focuses on:
- Two personas — Mel and Rex
- Development of a telehealth assessment criteria
- Application of criteria to both personas and journey maps
- Individual factors influencing participation in telehealth support, including tech preferences and social circumstances
- Examination of traditional service delivery methods to address pain points identified by journey mappings
To get the most out of the video series, you may wish to refer to the report, personas and journey maps while you watch.
Introduction – Project Background and approach
Development of a Telehealth Assessment Criteria
Applying the Telehealth Assessment Criteria to Client Personas & Journey Maps
Considerations for Service Providers
Complex needs persona suite
The Understanding Complex Support Needs project aims to learn about the experiences of clients in the Eastern Metropolitan Region seeking support across a range of sectors. Through interviews and workshops with service providers and people with experience of using services, the project mapped the service journey of three personas: Joe, Maddison and Neveah. The report presents visual journey maps for each persona, representing how project participants thought their journey would unfold. Differences in service provider and lived experience perspectives are explored, along with themes identified and opportunities for service system improvement.
Building on the work of the Outer East PCP Mental Health Access and Pathways Project, this new Persona work and journey mapping aims to articulate the complex support needs of shared clients in our region. This project was enabled by funding from the Outer East Primary Care Partnership.
Please use these resources freely and simply acknowledge EMHSCA as the source.
Project Overview
Download [181.96 kb]
Persona – Neveah
Download PDF [458.25 kb]
Persona – Maddison
Download PDF [519.61 kb]
Persona – Joe
Download PDF [491.6 kb]
Persona – Rex
Download PDF [576.42 kb]
Mental Health Access and Pathways project
The Mental Health Access and Pathways project was designed to better define and understand the experiences of people engaging with mental health services in eastern Melbourne.
The project also identified three themes as being critical to lived experience:
- Trust
- Choice and control
- Communication
Learn more about the project outcomes:
The Mental Health Access and Pathways report provides organisations with recommendations and a checklist for strengthening the three key themes of trust, choice and control, and communication.
Read the Mental Health Access and Pathways report.
Download the service provider checklist.
Guides, tip sheets and service navigation resources
Guides
Staff Guidelines for Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Members (EACH)
Dual diagnosis
Dual diagnosis refers to one or more diagnosed mental health problems occurring at the same time as problematic drug and alcohol use. It adds complexity to assessment, diagnosis, treatment and recovery, and can be associated with increased incidences of relapse.
A dual diagnosis condition can include:
- A mental health problem or disorder leading to, or associated with, problematic alcohol and/or other drug use
- A substance use disorder leading to, or associated with, a mental health problem or disorder
- Alcohol and/or other drug use worsening or altering the course of a person’s mental illness
Dual diagnosis is an evolving field, both in understanding causal relationships, and developing effective strategies for prevention, treatment and recovery.
Read the Victorian strategic directions for co-occurring mental health and substance use conditions
Download PDF [635.4 kb]
Responding to dual diagnosis
Dual diagnosis demands an integrated approach to assessment and treatment, in both specialist mental health and alcohol and other drug services.
These services aim to:
- Assess each person’s illness and needs using a risk framework
- Understand the preferences of individuals, carers and families
- Provide staff with appropriate training, education and learning opportunities related to dual diagnosis
Source: Victorian Department of Health
Victorian Dual Diagnosis Initiative (VDDI)
Funded by the Victorian Department of Health, VDDI supports doctors, agencies and other sector stakeholders, to recognise and respond effectively to people with a dual diagnosis.
VDDI is a cross-sector initiative that involves services in:
- Alcohol and drug
- Mental health community support
- Clinical mental health
VDDI includes four metropolitan agencies, including the Eastern Dual Diagnosis Service (see below). Each metropolitan agency has links to VDDI workers embedded in each rural region.
VDDI is coordinated by the VDDI Leadership Group (VDDILG) and the VDDI Rural Forum (VDDIRF).
For more information, visit the VDDI website.
Eastern Dual Diagnosis Service (EDDS)
EDDS is available to Eastern Health organisations that support and treat people with a dual diagnosis within:
- Mental health, and alcohol and other drug services (adult and youth)
- Mental health community support services (adults only)
Any healthcare professional working within these services can make a consultation request over the phone.
Eastern Metropolitan Region (EMR) Dual Diagnosis Linkage Meetings
EMR Linkage Meetings provide a forum for collaboration among key dual diagnosis stakeholders from a range of sectors and services, including:
- Alcohol and other drugs
- Clinical mental health
- Mental health community support services
- Homelessness/housing services
- Family and family violence services
- Gambling help
- Other services related to mental ill-health, substance use and co-occurring concerns
The meetings are held monthly and are hosted across various services in the Eastern Region.
EMR Dual Diagnosis (DDCCAC and DDWG)
Two dual diagnosis committees are working in partnership within the region:
- Dual Diagnosis Consumer and Carer Advisory Council (DDCCAC)
- Dual Diagnosis Working Group (DDWG)
DDCCAC and DDWG share an action plan, terms of reference, meeting agenda and minutes, as well as all decision-making capabilities.
The committees hold separate meetings sequentially on the same day, known collectively the In Tandem Dual Diagnosis Meetings (ITDDM). These meetings provide individuals, carers and healthcare professionals with appropriate space and time to discuss matters from a service recipient and provider perspective.
Both committees are also members of EMHSCA and VDDI, acting as a key leaders in the region with regards to:
- Driving implementation and innovation of dual diagnosis activities
- Informing regional and state-wide dual diagnosis strategy
- Providing advice, feedback and consultation from both a lived experience and service provider perspective
Reports and briefings
EMHSCA provides regular stakeholder updates, including:
- Monthly updates for the Governance Committee
- Bi-monthly updates from the Governance Committee to the Alliance members
- Bi-monthly newsletter for all stakeholders
- Annual report for the funder and the Alliance members
- Other reports — for specific activities
Read and download recent and past reports
Strategic Planning
End of year reports
Quarterly reports
Member and partnership reports
Partnership Survey Report 2021
Partnership Survey Report 2019
Dual Diagnosis Linkages Meeting Summary 2020
EMHSCA/NEMHSCA Workforce Development Survey 2019