Sometimes all it takes is a conversation: An overview of the Assisting Communities through Direct Connection (ACDC) project
Many people living with mental health issues do not engage in “help-seeking” behaviour nor respond to typical mental health promotional activities.
In 2021-2024, the ACDC Project went door to door to households in 27 communities to have conversations about mental health and wellbeing.
After knocking on 50,000 doors, and having over 9,000 conversations, we have a clearer understanding of the value of proactive outreach, as well as learnings about unmet needs and issues that community members face that affect their wellbeing (such as social determinants of mental health).
The Centre for Social Impact have been the research and evaluation partners in this novel project. ACDC last year won the national TheMHS Award for best national mental health promotional project.
This webinar was a discussion with Bill Gye, former CEO of Community Mental Health Australia, who sparked this idea. He reflected on learnings from the project, and policy implications that could help to ensure psychosocial support is available where needed.
PRESENTER: BILL GYE OAM
Recent CEO of Community Mental Health Australia (CMHA) 2018-2024. Prior to that Bill was the CEO of Ostara Australia (the Australia’s largest mental health specialist employment services provider); General Manager of Recovery Services at the Schizophrenia Fellowship of NSW (now OneDoor Mental Health); CEO of Options Community Enterprises, and other roles in the community sector since 1978. Bill initiated and led the ACDC Project (a project of CMHA) from its beginning in late 2019 to June 2024.
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Key findings
- Householders were responsive to informal conversations about mental health and welcomed the opportunity to receive information about supports and services.
- The one-off visit with (in some cases) short-term follow-up contact, resulted in tangible outcomes for many householders.
- Householders sought support for more immediate issues to help address their mental health and wellbeing.
- Addressing the more complex support needs of Householders in ‘high-risk’ circumstances was challenging, but through their dedicated efforts, People Connectors were able to provide assistance.
- The proactive outreach aspect of doorknocking was largely helpful, but particular cultural and social conditions challenged its effectiveness.
