First impressions count as MLHD takes steps to lift mental health services through UK model

MLHD is seeking carers and patients to give their feedback about the district’s mental health services. Photo: SDI Productions.

Murrumbidgee Local Health District has launched an initiative that aims to improve the experiences of patients using the district’s mental health services.

Carers and patients are being asked to provide their input, which will be used to devise an action plan for future decisions about the development of local services.

The 15 Steps Challenge Walkaround Teams, comprising community members and health district staff, will visit their local community mental health, drug and alcohol services and safe havens to provide feedback.

The 15 Steps Challenge is drawn from England’s National Health Service (NHS) and aims to look at service environments through the eyes of the people accessing them.

It focuses on people’s first impressions of walking into a service and how the physical space makes them feel.

MLHD mental health, drug and alcohol services have adapted the original NHS 15 Steps Challenge toolkits to be relevant locally.

Project lead Anna Dunbar said the Walkaround Team comprised local people who had lived or carer experience with mental health issues or substance use, or identified as an Aboriginal person.

“We want our Walkaround Teams to tell us about their first impressions when entering their local mental health services and how reassured, confident and safe the physical space makes them feel,” Ms Dunbar said.

“Their feedback will be used to help create an action plan to take steps to improve consumers’ and their carers’ experiences in local mental health services.

“The 15 Steps Challenge has been inspired by a similar initiative run by England’s National Health Service, kickstarted by a mother’s reflection on her family’s experience of hospital care.

“The mother said, ‘I can tell what kind of care my daughter is going to get within 15 steps of walking onto a ward’, which reinforces the importance of the first impression people get when entering a service.”

Walkaround Team members will be required to attend four sessions of about two hours each, between September 2024 and January 2025.

If you are interested in being part of the team or would like to ask questions, contact MLHD at [email protected]. Applications close this Sunday, 8 September.