Staying Deadly for mental health

20 Dec 2019

An Australian-first study into mental disorders has commenced at The University of Queensland.

The Queensland Urban Indigenous Mental Health Survey or the ‘The Staying Deadly Survey’ will learn from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders living in south-east Queensland to better understand local mental health needs and improve support services.

UQ School of Public Health researcher Dr Alize Ferrari said the study would estimate the prevalence of mental health in the community.

“It will also show us the types of support services accessed and barriers faced in accessing care,” Dr Ferrari said.

There are two phases to the project – a pilot and the main survey.

The pilot study was completed in November 2019, and the main survey, which will involve more than 1500 people across the Capalaba, Ipswich, Caboolture and greater Logan regions, will commence in March 2020.

The study will work with community stakeholders to adapt existing data collection methods for urban-Indigenous populations and incorporate their feedback on the cultural appropriateness of the survey design and processes.

 Dr Ferrari said the findings would benefit service providers and policymakers by giving them a clearer understanding of local Indigenous mental health needs.

 “The study findings will be shared with key stakeholders, including the Department of Health and the broader Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community.”

The Staying Deadly Survey is a collaboration between the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research, UQ’s School of Public Health, the Department of Health, and the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health and its member services.

Media: Dr Alize Ferrari, a.ferrari@uq.edu.au; Faculty of Medicine Communications, med.media@uq.edu.au, +61 7 3365 5118, +61 436 368 746.

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