Acquired Brain Injury

In line with the Acquired Brain Injury Strategic Plan, the Mental Health Branch of the Department of Human Services (DHS) has developed a protocol for specialist mental health services and other DHS-funded service providers working with people with an ABI. The protocol outlines:

• The characteristics and service needs of people with ABIs and mental health problems
• factors that would indicate the need for referral to specialist mental health services,
  and appropriate ways of requesting assistance from these services
• current roles and responsibilities of specialist mental health services and other relevant
  DHS services in relation to people with comorbid ABI and mental illness
• service descriptions and contact details for specialist mental health, specialist ABI and
  other services that may be of assistance to people with comorbid ABI and mental illness.

The purpose of the protocol is to enhance service delivery and coordination for people with an ABI and a mental illness. The protocol is one of the key initiatives identified in the Acquired Brain Injury Strategic Plan.

The Department of Human Services has also developed a document, Acquired Brain Injury and Mental Illness: Issues Paper (2004), which provides a more detailed account of issues for people with this comorbidity. The issues paper describes current ABI and mental health services in Victoria, and compares service provision in the state to that of other national and international jurisdictions. The paper also looks at options for improving the responsiveness of the service system to the needs of this target group and their carers.

Download complete documents below:

Acquired brain injury and mental illness: Protocol between mental health and other services - 2004 (PDF file 332KB)

Acquired brain injury and mental illness: Issues paper - 2004 (PDF file 137KB)