Box 1.

Features for non-clinical psychosocial support services for CALD immigrant clients

Design

– Recognises the eurocentrism of universalist frameworks, and counters this by foregrounding culture in intervention design, working from a culturally relativist position

– Works from an appropriate model (e.g. the ecological model) that centres clients, flexibility, context, culture, community and relationality

– Foregrounds advocacy, empowerment and the social determinants of health in delivering culturally appropriate psychological and social interventions

Setting

– Uses a community setting; the stigma associated with mental health care settings can prevent engagement

Delivery

– Engages staff from a similar background to clients, fostering the trust, rapport and understanding necessary to make psychosocial support accessible, appropriate and effective

– Adopts a cascade model, empowering members of the community being served – through training – to become lay-health workers

Evaluation

– Uses broad evaluation measures, beyond psychometric scales, including service providers’ and service users’ perspectives

Funding

– Resourcing is adequate and ongoing, increasing opportunities for professional development and reducing challenges with staff turnover, spacing and the diversity of clients’ needs