Grief and courage in a river town: a pilot project in the Aboriginal community of Kempsey, New South Wales.
OBJECTIVE
To describe a pilot project implemented in Kempsey, NSW, whereby a psychiatry registrar worked in a community-controlled Aboriginal medical service, Durri Aboriginal Corporation Medical Service, which provides mental health services for Aboriginal people.


CONCLUSIONS
The Aboriginal Mental Health Workers and psychiatry registrar jointly managed a significant number of Aboriginal people, often with assistance from the local mental health service at Kempsey. The registrar gained insight into the local Aboriginal community and more culturally appropriate clinical methods, as well as some cultural factors that can influence the presentation and management of mental illnesses. The Aboriginal Mental Health Workers increased their clinical knowledge and confidence through working with the registrar.
Cleworth
Sally
S
Hunter New England Area Health Service, Newcastle, NSW, Australia. sally.cleworth@hnehealth.nsw.gov.au
Smith
Wayne
W
Sealey
Robyn
R
D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003469:Culture; D004637:Emergency Services, Psychiatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006117:Grief; D006303:Health Services, Indigenous / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000193:education; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012919:Social Behavior