TY - JOUR
T1 - Screening for depression in young Indigenous people
T2 - Building on a unique community initiative
AU - Harriss, Linton R.
AU - Kyle, Mary
AU - Connolly, Katrina
AU - Murgha, Edward
AU - Bulmer, Merton
AU - Miller, Darren
AU - Munn, Paul
AU - Neal, Paul
AU - Pearson, Kingsley
AU - Walsh, Melanie
AU - Campbell, Sandra
AU - Berger, Maximus
AU - McDermott, Robyn
AU - McDonald, Malcolm
PY - 2018/8/9
Y1 - 2018/8/9
N2 - Gurriny Yealamucka Health Service Aboriginal Corporation (GYHSAC) is an Indigenous community-controlled health organisation providing comprehensive primary care to the people of Yarrabah in far north Queensland, Australia. GYHSAC conducts an annual Young Person's Health Check (YPC) for people aged 15-25 years based on the Medical Benefits Schedule Item 715. However, the YPC is constantly evolving to meet the needs of the community, and in 2016, in response to concerns about psychological risk among Indigenous youth, GYHSAC teamed up with James Cook University to trial an adapted PHQ-9 depression screening tool (aPHQ-9) as part of the YPC. This study describes the 2016 YPC event, reports the prevalence of depressive symptoms, examines local issues related to the use of the screening tool and proposes recommendations for future health screening. Experienced health professionals conducted the aPHQ-9 assessment in a private area of the clinic. One-in-five young people were found to have moderate-severe symptoms or self-harm ideation in the previous 2 weeks they were referred to the mental health service. The aPHQ-9 screening process was found to be straightforward and well accepted by staff and youth. Importantly, it provided valuable 'space' to facilitate communication on sensitive issues and was a conduit for speedy referral and follow up by trained staff. Based on our experience, we recommend dedicated depression screening in future routine community health checks for young people and adults.
AB - Gurriny Yealamucka Health Service Aboriginal Corporation (GYHSAC) is an Indigenous community-controlled health organisation providing comprehensive primary care to the people of Yarrabah in far north Queensland, Australia. GYHSAC conducts an annual Young Person's Health Check (YPC) for people aged 15-25 years based on the Medical Benefits Schedule Item 715. However, the YPC is constantly evolving to meet the needs of the community, and in 2016, in response to concerns about psychological risk among Indigenous youth, GYHSAC teamed up with James Cook University to trial an adapted PHQ-9 depression screening tool (aPHQ-9) as part of the YPC. This study describes the 2016 YPC event, reports the prevalence of depressive symptoms, examines local issues related to the use of the screening tool and proposes recommendations for future health screening. Experienced health professionals conducted the aPHQ-9 assessment in a private area of the clinic. One-in-five young people were found to have moderate-severe symptoms or self-harm ideation in the previous 2 weeks they were referred to the mental health service. The aPHQ-9 screening process was found to be straightforward and well accepted by staff and youth. Importantly, it provided valuable 'space' to facilitate communication on sensitive issues and was a conduit for speedy referral and follow up by trained staff. Based on our experience, we recommend dedicated depression screening in future routine community health checks for young people and adults.
KW - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
KW - health screening
KW - primary health care
KW - recommendations
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85051849057&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1071/PY18006
DO - 10.1071/PY18006
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85051849057
VL - 24
SP - 343
EP - 349
JO - Australian Journal of Primary Health
JF - Australian Journal of Primary Health
SN - 1324-2296
IS - 4
ER -