The Bridging Project
This project is being undertaken by Scope in collaboration with the Centre for Developmental Disability Health Victoria, Monash University.
People with complex communication needs have speech and/or language that are not functional to meet their daily communication needs.
People with complex communication needs and people with mental illness or emotional disorders often feel hidden within the community and believe that others do not readily understand the difficulties that they experience or the problems that they have accessing necessary services. However, when people have both a complex communication and a mental health need, the problems are significantly compounded. This project attempts to build bridges between specialist and community providers of mental health services in relation to people with complex communication needs and to provide information to all relevant stakeholders.
The Bridging Project has as its mission to progress the knowledge and resource base to ensure that individuals with complex communication and mental health needs have access to quality services.
This project has two streams, Building Evidence and Building Capacity and is based on combined and complementary research strategies. Each stream will work with the other to support the overall mission statement and assist in informing the project development at all stages. The project is designed around the needs of people who are 18 years or older.
If you need urgent medical or psychological support, we recommend you consult your local doctor, the emergency department of your local hospital, a specialist mental health service provider or a crisis telephone counselling service, such as Lifeline in Australia (13 11 14).
People who are deaf or have a hearing or speech impairment can call Lifeline through the National Relay Service (NRS). TTY users phone 133 677 then ask for the Lifeline number which is 13 11 14. Speak and Listen (speech-to-speech relay) users phone 1300 555 727 then ask for the Lifeline number which is 13 11 14.
Internet relay users connect to the NRS website for details http://www.relayservice.com.au/ and then ask
for the Lifeline number which is 13 11 14.
KEYWORDS: Depression, Counselling
