Table 1.
Overview of the Ripple mental health intervention: a complex mental health intervention in Melbourne’s North West Metropolitan Health Region (NWMR)
| Main components | Activities | Description |
|---|---|---|
| A. Organisational Collaboration and Contribution Developing shared language and commitment Fundamental to the mode and content of delivery of the intervention |
Implementation Group established at each Community Service Organisation (CSO) | Lead Ripple practitioners, Ripple project staff, and CSO management and staff meet regularly to review activity and opportunities and adapt the intervention as required |
| Ripple Practitioner Training and Supervision | Skilled mental health and alcohol and other drug (AOD) practitioners selected from 3 partner mental health agencies, trained and supervised (by lead practitioners from the same agencies) to work part-time with the CSOs | |
| Youth Peer Leaders | Young people with lived experience co-deliver training and other selected activities | |
| B. Mode of Delivery Ripple practitioner with specialist mental health expertise visits regularly A Ripple practitioner visits an identified CSO worksitea at specified times: to develop relationships, establish trust, and strengthen CSO staff capacity to use mental health concepts and skills in their work |
Professional Practice Groups | Ripple practitioner and CSO staff meet regularly for reflective practice; skills training; and case discussion |
| Training Sessions | CSO staff nominate key areas or topics for training on key mental health or AOD topics | |
| Secondary Consultation and Care Team Consultation | Ripple practitioner available by special arrangement for staff or care-team consultation about a specific young person | |
| Carer Groups Training in emotional attunement, psychological skills |
CSO staff trained in TinT: option to train carers in TinT courses | |
| C. Content Mental health/ Alcohol and drug expertise and evidence-based knowledge |
Support for skills training and reflection for CSO staff with use of Toolbox and TinT experience | CSO staff trained in i) mental health & AOD signs, symptoms, and support strategies, ii)accessing and navigating mental health support iii) psychoeducation and evidence based support strategies such as motivational interviewing techniques and emotion-focused coaching |
| Tuning into Teens (TinT) Training program for carers and parents of teenagers (see Reference 52) |
Selected CSO staff trained as TinT trainers for: carer groups; and CSO staff | TinT adapted for OoHC to support the development of emotional attunement and emotion-coaching roles for those caring for adolescents. TinT program staff provide training and supervision |
| Toolbox http://www.youthaodtoolbox.org/ http://oohc.webtribe.com.au/ |
Online information on evidence-based therapeutic practice elements | Toolbox adapted for use in OoHC. Ripple practitioners trained to support CSO staff in its use |
| D. Menu of Therapeutic and Mental Health Knowledge and Skillsb | Challenging behaviours (and the role of trauma in their development and maintenance); Emotion regulation; Depression and anxiety; Communication and social skills; Family-focused interventions; Motivational interviewing; Problem solving; Promoting resilience; Self-harm and suicide | |
aEach CSO has several worksites for home-based care teams and residential care houses
bTraining, reflection and supervision available to CSO staff in this range of skills, used according to the agenda chosen at each worksite