Introduction

People with lived experience of mental health issues may encounter challenges when accessing health information and services. Diagnostic overshadowing is common; and their health-seeking journey may be a myriad of disjointed episodes of care and support. Understanding what is needed to be mental health literacy responsive requires a focus on what health and community services need to do to respond to the needs of the diverse people and groups in the community. 

Methods

The Ophelia (Optimising Health Literacy and Access) process was applied to conduct a needs assessment, co-design, implement and evaluate strategies to improve mental health literacy responsiveness. Locally collected health literacy data and data from the National Health Survey (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2018) were analysed to inform the development of 13 vignettes representative of the mental health literacy profiles identified. These vignettes were used to generate discussion within online workshops held with people with lived experience and service providers. Their ideas to improve mental health literacy responsiveness were thematically analysed into eleven action areas. Primary Health Networks led the co-design of strategies to address these action areas according to local priorities.

Results

People with lived experience of mental health issues expressed the need to have sufficient supportive people around them and encouragement to act quickly when they think that something is “not quite right”. They also need to be able to trust health providers.

Health and community services need to provide access to support and services in ways that are friendly and flexible (not bureaucratic, complex and judgemental). Service providers need to listen and explain respectfully; and admit when they are unable to help and refer on. There needs to be assistance to connect people with community supports, not just for problems, but also for enjoyment of life.

Lessons learned

Building health system responsiveness needs to start with understanding the needs of people with lived experience. Using the Ophelia process identified these actions are needed for mental health literacy responsiveness:

• Connection between health services and the community;
• Accessing help at the right time in easy, friendly ways; and
• Training and capacity-building in health and community services.