Improving the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
Indigenous Model of Mental Health Care: RCT based on a trans-diagnostic CBT program co-designed with Community
AIM
This study will develop an Indigenous Model of Mental Health Care (IMMHC) that encompasses psychological therapy and cultural healing practices developed in consultation with local, participating Indigenous communities, that will for the first time treat highly prevalent mood and anxiety disorders in Indigenous Australians..
Project contact
Findings and outcomes to date
Nasir B, Brennan-Olsen S, Gill N, Beccaria G, Kisley S, Hides L, Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan S, Nicholson G, Toombs M. (2021). A community-led design for an Indigenous Model of Mental Health Care for Indigenous people with depressive disorders. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 45(4): 1753-6405
Brown K.A, Toombs M, Nasir B, Kisely S, Ranmuthugala G, Brennan-Olsen S, Nicholson G, Gill N, Hayman, Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan S & Hides L. (2020). Australian Indigenous model of mental healthcare based on transdiagnostic cognitive–behavioural therapy co-designed with the Indigenous community: protocol for a randomised controlled trial, BJ Psych Open, 6:3 e33
Brown K.A, Toombs M, Nasir B, Kisely S, Ranmuthugala G, Brennan-Olsen S, Nicholson G, Gill N, Hayman, Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan S & Hides L. (2020). How Can Mobile Applications Support Suicide Prevention Gatekeepers in Australian Indigenous communities?, Social Science and Medicine, 258 (113015)
Nasir B, Brennan-Olsen S, Toombs M. (2020). Implications of COVID-19 on a clinical trial of an Indigenous model of mental health care. Insightplus MJA
Differences between Indigenous and non-Indigenous adults presenting to emergency departments within DDHHS hospitals
AIM
The aim of this study is to explore and describe the differences (if any) between Indigenous and non-Indigenous adults (defined as aged 16 and above) who presented to Emergency Departments in the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service (DDHHS) during the calendar years 2016 and 2017. Secondary analyses aim to identify and quantify any differences between rural and regional hospital presentations (Toowoomba hospital vs other DDHHS hospitals).
Project contact
A/Prof Srinivas Kondalsamy Chennakesavan
Findings and outcomes to date
Improving the Mental Health of Indigenous Australians with Chronic Disease
AIM
People living with mental health disorders experience an increased risk of chronic physical health conditions. The consequences of mental and physical comorbidity leads to lower life expectancy, high mortality, increased burden of disease, reduced quality of life and an intensified social and economic impact. Co-existing mental and physical conditions can lead to longer disorder duration and worse health outcomes. People with multiple comorbidities also experience the compounding struggle of navigating complex treatment regimens. This project looks at understanding the associations of chronic diseases with mental disorders, which is the first step to developing strategies to reduce the incidence of co-existing conditions support those living with mental disorder.
Project Contact
Findings and outcomes to date
Nasir B, Vinayagam R, Rae Kym. (2022). "It's what makes us unique.": Indigenous Australian perspectives on genetics research to improve comorbid mental and chronic disease outcomes. Current Medical Research and Opinion, 1-24
Indigenous Network Suicide Intervention Skills Training - INSIST Project
AIM
This study aims to improve the mental health of Indigenous Australians through research that is multi-disciplinary and cross-sectoral; conducted in under-researched communities; and builds capacity in Indigenous health.
Project Contact
Findings and outcomes to date
Nasir B, Kisely S, Hides L, Brennan-Olsen S, Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan S, Nicholson G, Gill N, Beccaria G, Toombs M. (2022). Translating Research into Action: The design and development of an Indigenous specific suicide intervention skills training program (I-ASIST). AJRH, doi: 10.1111/ajr.12903
Brown K, Toombs M, Nasir B, Kisely S, Ranmuthugala G, Brennan-Olsen S, Nicholson G, Gill N, Hayman N, Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan S, Hides L. (2020). How can mobile applications support suicide prevention gatekeepers in Australian Indigenous communities?. Social Science and Medicine, 258: 11301
Nasir B, Kisely S, Hides L, Ranmuthugala G, Brennan-Olsen S, Nicholson G, Gill N, Hayman N, Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan S, Toombs M. (2019). An Australian Indigenous community-led suicide intervention skills training program: community consultation findings. BMC Psychiatry, 17(1): 219
Nasir B, Hides L, Kisely S, Ranmuthugala G, Nicholson G, Black E, Gill N, Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan S, Toombs M. (2016).The need for a culturally-tailored gatekeeper training intervention program in reventing suicide among Indigenous peoples: a systematic review. BMC Psychiatry, 16(1): 357
SCID-I Study - Mental Health Prevalence study
Aim
This project aims to develop a holistic model of care that makes a significant contribution to the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people living with a mental illness.
Project contact
Findings and outcomes to date
Nasir B, Ryan E, Black E, Kisely S, Gill N, Beccaria Gavin, Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan S, Nicholson G, Toombs M. (2022). The risk of common mental disorders in Indigenous Australians experiencing traumatic life events. BJPsych Open, 8(1): e8
Nasir B, Black E, Toombs M, Kisely S, Gill N, Beccaria G, Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan S, Nicholson G. (2021). Traumatic life events and risk of post-traumatic stress disorder among the Indigenous population of regional, remote and metropolitan Central-Eastern Australia: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open, 11(4): e040875
Toombs M, Nasir B, Kisely S, Ranmuthugala G, Gill N, Beccaria G, Hayman N, Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan S, Nicholson G. (2019). Cultural validation of the structured clinical interview for diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders in Indigenous Australians. Australasian Psychiatry, 27(4): 362-365
Nasir B, Toombs M, Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan S, Kisely S, Gill N, Black E, Hayman N, Ranmuthugala G, Beccaria G, Ostini R, Nicholson G.(2018). Common mental disorders among Indigenous people living in regional, remote and metropolitan Australia: a cross-sectional study. BMJ Open, 8(6): e020196
Toombs M, Nasir B, Kisely S, Kondalsamy-Chennakesavan S, Gill N, Black E, Hayman N, Ranmuthugala G, Beccaria G, Ostini R, Nicholson G. (2018). The cultural appropriateness of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV TR, Axis I (SCID-I) for Indigenous populations, study update. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 52: 118