The psychiatry college’s position on mental health care for people seeking asylum and refugees. It calls for an end to immigration detention and for care equal to that of the general population, noting very high rates of self-harm among detained children.
Topic: Policy and systems
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Responding together: Multicultural young people and their mental health
A policy report on the mental health of young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds. It notes that most are resilient but that racism and managing a multicultural identity can harm wellbeing, and it makes policy recommendations.
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Mental Health and Wellbeing for Victoria’s Multicultural Communities Under COVID-19 (Issue Brief)
A brief on how the COVID-19 pandemic hit the mental health of Victoria’s multicultural communities, including temporary visa holders, women and young people. It calls for emergency support for temporary visa holders and trauma-informed, culturally responsive care.
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Recommendations for a Culturally Responsive Mental Health System
Joint recommendations from a peak community body and the state transcultural mental health unit on how Victoria’s reformed mental health system can be culturally safe and responsive.
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If We Don’t Count It… It Doesn’t Count! Towards consistent national data collection and reporting on cultural, ethnic and linguistic diversity
An issues paper arguing that Australia collects data on cultural, ethnic and language diversity poorly and inconsistently, including in health and mental health services. It calls for national data standards.
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Social determinants of health among culturally and linguistically diverse people in Australia
An analysis of how things like income, education and housing relate to long-term health conditions in CALD groups, using Census data. For mental health conditions, adjusting for these social factors changed the picture only a little.
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Culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) review: mental health, alcohol and other drug services
A Queensland Health review of how mental health and alcohol and drug services work for people from CALD backgrounds. It found these services are under-used by CALD communities because of stigma and language and cultural barriers, which can lead to worse outcomes and more emergency admissions.
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NSW Refugee Health Plan 2022–2027
The NSW Health plan for improving the health and wellbeing of people from refugee backgrounds. It sets priorities for how the health system should support them.
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NSW Plan for Healthy Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities: 2019–2023 (PD2019_018)
A NSW Health policy directive that sets out how the health system should meet the needs of people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. It sets out how the NSW health system should respond to their health needs.
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Diverse Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Framework 2025–2035 and Blueprint 2025–2028
A ten-year Victorian framework, with a first action plan, to make the mental health system safe and inclusive for multicultural Victorians, LGBTIQA+ Victorians and Victorians with disability. It aims to reduce stigma and discrimination and uses an intersectional approach.