ABSTRACT
Background: Community and religious leaders, as well as other natural leaders, from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds have been posited as a gateway into communities, acting as information intermediaries to enable or broker public health messages about COVID-19. However, there is currently limited understanding of the capacity, role, reach, and support needs of these leaders in fulfilling this function. Aim(s): To understand the role and impact of information intermediaries in promoting and supporting COVID-19 public health communication and engagement activities in culturally diverse communities, based on the perceptions of those working in services and other social support roles. Method(s): Forty-six semi-structured telephone interviews were undertaken with key stakeholders who played an active role in the delivery of services and other social support to culturally diverse communities in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic. Thematic analysis was undertaken using the constant comparative approach. Finding(s): Four key themes emerged related to the role of information intermediaries during the interviews: (1) Ideas around the role they fulfil in 'bridging the gap' and supporting the delivery of pandemic related information into communities;(2) Participants suggested that there had been a failure by Australian Commonwealth Government agencies to recognise the role these information intermediaries play within their communities early in the pandemic, as well as a failure to provide sufficient resources and support;(3) Concerns were raised that information may be inappropriately interpreted or translated by the community information intermediaries or potentially blocked, if the message does not align with the broker's own personal beliefs;and (4) Concerns were raised about the potential for burn-out amongst information intermediaries. Implications: Community leaders and other information intermediaries play a critical role in preparing and responding to pandemics and other disasters. There needs to be a recognition of these roles formally in pandemic community service planning, and resources are required to enhance and sustain their involvement.
ABSTRACT
Background: Wait times for in-person mental health treatment are a national crisis for young people. Long wait times are associated with many negative consequences such as lower treatment satisfaction and discontinuation, symptom deterioration and relapse, and lower likelihood of future help-seeking. With the onset of COVID-19, wait times have become longer. General Practitioners (GPs) are the primary referrers to in-person mental health treatment, however, their ability to care for their youth patients' mental health is often negatively impacted by long wait times, often resulting in GPs engaging in significantly high levels of management, with little resources to do so. Brief, low-intensity digital interventions may provide accessible, evidence-based, and cost-effective care while young people await in-person mental health care. Aim/Objectives: This study aims to examine the impact of service wait times on GPs' treatment of mental health problems in youth patients and explore their openness to recommending digital interventions as support during this time. Method(s): A national cross-sectional survey conducted among 430 GPs (currently recruiting). Finding(s): This presentation will outline the survey results. Preliminary results (N=53) indicate that wait times impact GP decisions and management of young patients. Specifically, participants reported that due to long wait times, they often increase their care rather than refer patients to services (M=4.08, SD=.79) and often refer patients to different services than their preferred service (M=4.00, SD=.69), are very open to recommending mobile mental health apps to their patients (M=4.24, SD=.84), but are only somewhat confident in doing so (M=3.57, SD=1.27). Implications: This research is the first in Australia to examine mental health service wait times on GP treatment care and decisions specifically for youth. It will inform how young patients can be best supported and which interventions GPs consider to be most ideal for supporting young people while they await in-person mental health care.