Transcultural clinical consultation service
Any mental health care service should consider the patient's cultural background. The Queensland Transcultural Mental Health Centre offers free mental health services for people from non-English speaking backgrounds.
We can assist in connecting patients and their friends and families with mental health care and services. The service is free and confidential.
Please use our Referral form (PDF 123 kB) and Consent Form (PDF 26 kB) to refer a patient.
How we help
QTMHC has bilingual and bicultural doctors, nurses, allied health workers and transcultural clinical specialists who can help patients with complex mental health problems. We can:
- assist with co-assessments
- provide diagnostic clarification
- discuss mental health and illness with patients in a culturally appropriate way
- assess how a patient's cultural background affects their mental health
- take cultural needs into consideration when considering treatment options
- talk to and teach patient families and community leaders about mental health
- provide referral options for community services and support
- facilitate access to public mental health services.
What to expect
Patients can expect to be treated with dignity and respect for their privacy, religion and cultural background. We seek written or verbal consent before we contact anyone, including any mental health worker from the patient’s cultural or language background.
Levels of consultation
- Primary - face-to-face or videoconference between the patient an our mental health staff. We pass on feedback and recommendations to you after the session.
- Secondary - you as the treating health professional can talk to a transcultural mental health specialist about cultural issues and get advice to help you treat your patient. This can lead to a primary consultation if needed.
- Tertiary - you and your patient can talk to a staff member about another service's program, including specific program advice, skills development and working together on the patient's treatment.
Translated resources
You can access translated resources for this service and others offered by QTMHC on the Queensland Government Health and wellness website.