This page contains information for consumers and carers on Western Australia’s consumer outcome initiative.

• What are Outcome Measures
• Why rate your own mental health
• What questionnaires are we using in WA?
• Self rating questionnaires
• Rating your own mental health in practice
• Privacy and confidentiality
• Information for carers
• What the future holds
• Information brochures

What are Outcome Measures?

Outcome measures are questionnaires that gather information about you (a consumer). Some questionnaires (outcome measures) will be completed by clinicians and some by you.

In keeping with the national approach, Western Australia has introduced both clinician rated and consumer self-rated outcome measure questionnaires.

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Why rate your own mental health?

You’re the expert about your own mental health. You’re there all the time, living with your illness and dealing with any problems that may arise. You’re the one with the continuity, the overview and the full history… that’s why it makes good sense to participate in outcome measurement.

By telling the clinicians treating you ‘your side of the story’ you can make sure that your voice is heard.

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What questionnaires are we using in Western Australia?

In Western Australia the following measures are used;

Adults
Consumers: Kessler 10+
Clinicians: HoNOS, LSP 16, FOC

Older Adult 65+
Consumers: Kessler 10+
Clinicians: HoNOS, RUG-ADL, LSP 16, FOC

Child & Adolescent
Consumers: Strengths & Difficulties Questionnaire
Clinicians: HoNOSCA, CGAS, FIHS

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Self rating questionnaires

Filling in a self-rated questionnaire is one way for you to contribute to the treatment you receive.

When taking part in the completion of a questionnaire, you will be helping a clinician to ensure that a broad range of your needs can be identified up front and taken into account in planning your clinical treatment and care, as well as any referrals you may need to support services.

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Rating your own mental health in practice

You have a choice in deciding whether or not you wish to complete a self-rating questionnaire. If you decide not to complete a questionnaire it will not affect the level of service provided to you.

Participating in self-rating your mental health is voluntary. The completed questionnaire can provide a basis for discussion between you and your case manager or treating clinician. Feedback from consumers and service providers in eastern states indicates that in many instances this discussion has enhanced clinical decision-making.

Under some circumstances the clinician may decide not to offer you a self-rating questionnaire. This may occur in situations where you are very distressed or your illness prevents you understanding the questionnaire.

A further reason for not presenting the self-rating questionnaire is in cases where a consumer might be from a different language background and therefore does not have sufficient skill in English to complete the form. The Kessler 10+ questionnaire has been translated into a few different languages and is available to consumers from different language backgrounds at the following website; www.tmhc.nsw.gov.au

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Privacy & Confidentiality

As with all information you provide to a mental health service the information in the self-rated questionnaire is treated as confidential.

In instances where the information obtained from outcome measurement data are used for broader purposes eg; improve the quality of services (whether collected by the consumer or the clinicians) the data will be de-identified.

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Information for carers

Feedback from your carer can provide invaluable information about you. With your permission as a consumer, communication with your carer is recognised as a very important part of providing you with good clinical care.

The adult and older adult services do not as yet include a carer questionnaire. Carer and carer advocacy groups are working on developing a carer instrument for use in adult and older adult services. It is possible to add questionnaires to the already existing ones, over time. Child & Adolescent Health Services (CAMHS) have a version of the Strengths & Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) that can be completed by a parent or carer. Carers for consumers of adult and older adult services will need to rely on existing processes such as talking to clinicians to express their views.

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What the future holds

Whilst the current self-rated measure might not be ideal, it is important to remember that we are only at the beginning stages of the process of outcome measurement data collection. We have a long way to go and expect to continually review and refine the process over the next 3 – 5 years.

Consumer groups in other states are developing a self-rated questionnaire and we expect to have access to this measure when complete.

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Information Brochures

The Office of Mental Health in collaboration with consumers has developed brochures to help inform you and your carers about outcome measurement. You may locate them in our website's Resources for Consumers area

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