DHF Annual Report 2009 - NT Health Digital Library - Northern ...

Key AchievementsImplemented the NT Suicide Prevention Action Plan in collaboration with other NorthernTerritory and Australian Government Departments.Commenced expansion of child and adolescent services to a number of remote Aboriginalcommunities.Implemented the National Perinatal Depression Initiative to increase communityawareness and improve detection and treatment of mental illness during pregnancy andtrial of culturally appropriate screening in remote communities.Commenced implementation of the Mental Health and Palliative Care initiative. Theaim of this time-limited project is to improve recognition and treatment of mental healthproblems experienced by people with a terminal illness and to improve palliative careservices to people with a serious mental illness.Commenced planning for the implementation of an NT-wide 24 hour mental health triageand response service based in Darwin is well advanced. The expanded services will beoperational early 2010-11.Undertook planning for 11 additional acute mental health inpatient beds funded throughthe Secure Care Initiative. These beds will enable care to be provided to special needsgroup in a separate environment, such as young people and mothers with babies whoare experiencing mental illness. Acute assessment and stabilisation will also be providedto young people and people with a cognitive disability. Building works will commenceearly in 2010-11.Inpatient Mental HealthTotal separations decreased by 102, or 9.5% and bed days remained relatively stable in2009-10 compared to 2008-09. This resulted in a longer average length of stay of 11.6days (up from 10.9 days). Access to additional supported care options in the communityhas provided alternatives to the management of patients in the acute care setting, allowingbetter care for the patients with severe illness.The proportion of Aboriginal inpatients only marginally increased compared to the previousyear. Of the 940 separations, 47% (up from 45%) were Aboriginal patients. Consistent withprevious years, males are more likely to require inpatient care than females. In 2009-10,58% of inpatients were male and 42% were female.140Department Health and Families