Project Overview Introduction I am pleased to announce the commencement of the Contributing Life Project. This project is being conducted for Australia’s National Mental Health Commission. Joining me in this project are: •
Dr Lindsay Oades, University of Wollongong •
Cath Roper, Consumer Academic, University of Melbourne •
Douglas Holmes, Consumer Participation Officer on secondment from St Vincents Inner City Mental Health Program, Sydney. The project team will work with a Project Advisory Group (PAG), chaired by National Mental Health Commissioners Janet Meagher and Jackie Crowe, and comprised of people with lived experience, families and support people and other experts. Details will be released in 2013. Project’s purpose The project will develop for the Commission a qualitative methodology, processes and a framework to compile and report on the experiences of Australians with mental health issues and their families and supporters. Put simply, the project is seeking to develop a method by which Australians can talk to the Commission on a regular basis about what their lives are like – their mental health and wellbeing, the mental health and wellbeing of a family member or friend, the good, the bad, what’s important, their aspirations, what helps, what doesn't help and their ideas for change and for a contributing life. The project will lay the foundations for a regular national qualitative survey that goes well beyond health services and focuses on the daily lives of people and families. It will capture National Contributing Life Project commissioned by the National Mental Health Commission 1 people’s whole of life experiences as well as their perceptions about what they need to live the lives they wish to lead. This will include, for example: •
Homes and accommodation and the safety, stability or security of their living environment •
Connections with family, friends, culture, community and naturally occurring supports and resources •
Meaningful activity and of having something to look forward to •
Personal wellbeing – experiences of ‘thriving not just surviving’. It is likely that the project will also explore people’s and families’ experiences of supports and responses across a wide range of housing, employment, education, training, health, mental health and other human and community services and their views as to whether and how these responses support a contributing life. The methodology will not in anyway seek to measure service and support outcomes. It is important to note that the methodology will be inclusive of the experiences of families, friends and other support people. Why is this project important? The National Mental Health Commission has identified that on a national scale there is no consistent or regularly collected qualitative information about people’s every day and whole of life experiences. The Commission feels that qualitative information of this nature is essential in building a rounded picture of people’s lives and experiences. The qualitative information once it is obtained will complement the information about service and support outcomes presented in the Commission’s annual National Report Card on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention. The information will also guide the Commission’s work in assisting Australians to achieve the best possible mental health and wellbeing. The Commission is very aware that there are other existing or developing surveys and scales or initiatives that target people with mental health issues and/or their families and support people and their experience of mental health services. These other surveys and scales are largely quantitative in nature and are generally focussed on support and service outcomes. In developing qualitative methodologies and processes, and in focusing on experiences of National Contributing Life Project commissioned by the National Mental Health Commission 2 daily life irrespective of service use, the Contributing Life Project seeks to supplement and support current activities. The diagram below, A contributing life, from the Commission’s Strategies and Actions document (p.6, available from www.mentalhealthcommission.gov.au), depicts the underpinning concept that the project methodology and framework is seeking to qualitatively capture, survey and report upon. This project incorporates recovery and wellbeing principles, takes the experiences of people and families as the starting point and acknowledges the importance of environment and community. Phases of the project The project will be conducted in two related phases. Phase One: Review of the literature and of existing qualitative methods & processes Literature review – A literature review is being conducted to explore how a contributing life might be defined and appraised. This review will examine relevant methods and processes that are currently used to qualitatively compile and report on people’s and families’ daily life and whole of life experiences (October – December 2012). Call for Expressions of Interest for people to participate in the project – Expressions of Interest to participate in the project are now being sought from people with mental health issues, their families and support people as well as services providers and researchers in mental health, community support, housing, employment, education & training, leisure and National Contributing Life Project commissioned by the National Mental Health Commission 3 recreation, children & youth, aged care, income support, justice and other relevant service sectors. Participation can take the following forms: i)
Respond to an Online Survey and Literature Review (to be launched late January 2013) that seeks information about relevant qualitative methodologies and processes people are familiar with and/or ii)
In-­‐depth discussions with the project team about qualitative methods being used (ie site visits) iii)
Provide comment on the draft Methodology in June 2013 iv)
Participate in the Pilot for the new method’s June 2013. People with experience of mental health issues, family members and other support people are also warmly invited to express their interest in completing the Online Survey, commenting on the draft method and participating in the Pilot. Phase Two: Design and pilot of a contributing life qualitative methodology Design and pilot of a Contributing Life Methodology -­‐ Drawing on the findings of Phase One, a qualitative methodology and framework will be developed. The draft method will be consulted upon and piloted in May and June 2013. Report upon and make recommendations concerning: Following the pilot a report will be prepared with recommendations about: •
Scope of the methodology, its conduct and how its findings might be used •
Frequency of the method’s conduct •
Sampling rationale, technique and size and level of localisation •
Cost and other resource requirements •
Possible next steps National Contributing Life Project commissioned by the National Mental Health Commission 4 Indicative key dates Project commences …………………………………………………………. October 2012 Invitation to all people to participate ………………………………. December Literature Review to Project Advisory Group (PAG)…………. Early 2013 Launch of Online Survey & Literature Review …………………. Late January Survey closes ……………………………………………………………………. 18 March Presentation of Report of Online Survey to PAG ……………… April Visits to a number of organisations to obtain more information about currently used methods …………….. April New methodology ready for review by PAG & Commission……………………………. May Consultation on and Pilot of new methodology……………… June Presentation of Draft Final Report to PAG & Commission.. July Finalisation of Project………………………………………………………. End July For more information or to register your interest Leanne Craze M: 0408 869 051 E: leanne.craze@bigpond.com W: www.crazelateralsolutions.com National Contributing Life Project commissioned by the National Mental Health Commission 5