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Australian Defence Force Mental Health Strategy Training Framework

The development of a mental health training framework is one of the key components to the Integration and Enhancement of Australian Defence Force (ADF) Mental Health Services in the Mental Health Strategy (MHS). As such, Defence has made a commitment to “increase the skill level of mental health professionals to enable them to better support commanders and ADF members with mental health issues”.

The diversity of personnel involved in the provision of mental health services and the growing emphasis on evidence-based interventions mean that training needs to be delivered systematically and meet a wide variety of needs. The development of a mental health training framework will ensure that this occurs.

Currently, as part of the ADFMHS, a range of mental health training courses are offered. A broad range of areas are covered including drug and alcohol, suicide, critical incidents, traumatic stress and acute mental health presentations on operations.

The framework is informed by the particular mental health needs of ADF members and the existing skills and knowledge base amongst Defence personnel who deliver mental health interventions. It also takes into account known best practice in the provision of mental health training and recommendations outlined in mental health training frameworks that are recognised internationally.

Who is the Training Framework for?

Defence has defined the roles of personnel providing mental health interventions by the training they have received both externally and within defence, and the type of care they are expected to deliver. There are four role categories requiring different levels of training and support in order to deliver sound mental health interventions:

• Mental Health Peers are individuals who have received training to provide immediate support, identification and referral or limited education to promote wellbeing and resilience.
• Mental Health Providers are individuals who have had training recognised by Defence or professional bodies that allows them to provide some limited interventions such as crisis support or psycho-education under the supervision of a mental health professional or specialist.
• Mental Health Professionals are individuals who have a tertiary degree in a health discipline and have been trained to provide brief interventions and treatment for mental health problems and/or disorders.
• Mental Health Specialists are individuals with post graduate mental health qualifications who can provide specialist treatment for mental health disorders.

Within the ADFMHS, Mental Health has developed a training framework with four key areas:

• Suicide Prevention Program
• Critical Incident Mental Health Support
• Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Program
• Enhanced training for mental health professional/providers

11 October, 2011