Years of drought and the downturn in the resources sector has hit many across North West Queensland hard.
Thankfully, as part of the State Government mental health drought and disaster support package, the region has just gained the services of clinical nurse consultant Jayne Watkins who has been appointed to assist and enhance the knowledge base of local mental health services.
Mrs Watkins has commenced her role as the Regional Adversity Integrated Care Clinician for the region which is based at Mount Isa but will service the entire North West.
Her role will be to focus on enhancing access and improving understanding of mental health and to support other health workers who are likely to come into contact with people who are experiencing mental health issues via the Tackling Adversity in Regional Drought and Disaster Communities through Integrating Health Services (TARDDiHS) scheme.
“The scheme has been designed to reduce psychological distress of people living in the North West and other regional areas across the state in readiness for a reoccurrence of drought or another natural disaster taking place,” Mrs Watkins said.
“By continuing to strengthen our communities’ mental health network, residents will be better equipped to cope with any future adversities that may occur.
Mrs Watkins aims to provide integrated clinical care so that people experiencing mental health issues will receive coordinated service from non-government and government groups.
“It’s my job to assist these groups - who are already doing a fantastic job – where necessary and promote collaboration to put staff in an even better position to care for people who are suffering from mental illness,’’ she said.
“I’m not trying to reinvent the wheel; I just want to give care providers assistance in areas they feel they need to strengthen.”
Mrs Watkins said no one was immune to the many different forms that mental illness took.
“I want there to be support available for entire communities. When a drought sets in everyone feels it, from the beef producers to shop owners and children,’’ she said.
“One big advantage of my position is having the added security of knowing the initiative is being recurrently funded, which will allow me to plan long-term strategies.
“I’m currently in the process of mapping out what services are available in each area of the region and the staff associated with those services.’’
During her initial 12 months in the role, Mrs Watkins will collate needs analysis from staff members.
“I’ll then find ways to assist and enhance the level of care offered by each service,’’ she said.
“From that point forward, I’ll annually adjust how I assist to cater for the specific needs of each community as their priorities become more apparent.”
Mrs Watkins has already started on the needs analysis which will require her to travel across the region to talk to all mental health service providers about areas of care they’d like to enhance.
“After those consultations I’ll work out the kind of assistance the individual services require then come back out and help them implement it practically,’’ she said.
Mrs Watkins also is developing a calendar of community events to attend as being engaged in the community was the best way to work out what the problems were.
“It’s helpful that the North West already has such a strong community spirit, I just hope to help strengthen it, by assisting people who have missed out previously,’’ she said.
“People who are suffering in silence need to realise they aren’t alone and that if you talk to people who feel the same way you’ll start feeling better about things.
“At one stage in my life I thought I was failing as a mother, but I went to a mothers’ group to see how others in my situation coped and found out I was pretty normal.
“By engaging with a mental health clinician and finding a support group in your community you’ll learn how to cope with stress, and be able to work through it a lot easier than you could on your own.”
Mrs Watkins brings 23 years of mental health nursing experience to her new role.
Prior to joining the North West Hospital and Health Service, she worked for the Bundaberg–Wide Bay Integrated Mental Health Service.
Originally from Mount Perry, west of Bundaberg, she also worked for many years as a mental health nurse at Emerald and Biloela.
“My prior experience in mental health nursing in rural and remote regions is what prompted me to take the Mount Isa position,’’ she said.
“I’m really excited by the role and I’m looking forward to getting to know all the communities in the North West. It’s a beautiful area and everyone I’ve met has been very friendly and welcoming.’’
Ms Watkins said local government, community and non-government agencies could apply for grants through Queensland Health under the TARDDiHS scheme for projects designed to reduce the negative effects that droughts, disasters and other crises could have on their communities. Applications close on May 10.
“Agencies can apply for grants that range from $5000 to $50,000 to host community-based events like the Crocodile Dundee 30-year anniversary at the Walkabout Creek Hotel in McKinlay, which saw a lot of people who live in isolated areas come together and have a great time,’’ she said.
For more information about the grants program, visit the community grants site at: www.health.qld.gov.au/mental-health