Forced adoption support services scoping study Daryl Higgins, Pauline Kenny, Reem Sweid and Lucy Ockenden Report for the Department of Social Services by the Australian Institute of Family Studies February 2014

102.2Mental health practitioners

There are limited appropriate therapeutic services available for people affected by forced adoption, with very few services available in regional areas. Those that do seek out these services do so for various reasons. Most people enter the service system complaining of symptoms such as depression, anxiety or insomnia. Mental health practitioners generally have very limited knowledge on forced adoption and its long-term effects. There is concern that the effects of forced adoptions are often not recognised as mental health issues; only recognisable symptoms such as depression, anxiety or insomnia are being treated. As a result, symptoms are being treated separately and in no context to people’s forced adoption experiences that may have caused or contributed to the presenting mental health problems. This can cause further damage if a person perceives that their mental health professional is being dismissive of their personal history (Kenny et al., 2012). Furthermore, patients need to have a diagnosed condition to receive Medicare-funded treatment; therefore, services are not focusing on early intervention or prevention.

Discussions from the workshops clearly indicate that therapeutic services with workers who have prior knowledge and training on the impacts of forced adoption are more effective in meeting the needs of clients. Professionals’ limited knowledge of forced adoptions and its effects has resulted in a lack of sensitivity which, in turn, discourages patients from disclosing their experiences and receiving appropriately tailored services. Currently, the standard of the therapeutic service delivered is inconsistent and there is considerable variation in how current services are reaching and ultimately providing support to the target population. One development that will perhaps assist is the Australian Government’s funding for the development of good practice guidelines for doctors and mental health practitioners. The Department of Health have been commissioned to undertake this task.

The allocation of funds for ATAPS services was identified as an issue of importance during the consultation process. This has already been discussed in the report—please refer to Chapter 6 for further information.

103Service delivery

To have skilled and experienced psychologists, therapists, counsellors and GPs with a better understanding of the long-term impacts of the trauma associated with and the experiences of forced adoption for all parties involved. An understanding of how forced adoption and the issues of grief and trauma have impacted differently on adopted persons, mothers, fathers, other family members and adoptive parents.

A wider understanding of the extent and diversity of past adoption issues among all mental health professionals, which allows for greater sensitivity and the ability to refer clients to appropriate services.

Mental health practitioners with the ability to facilitate a safe space to discuss forced adoption.

Trauma-aware practitioners to improve diagnostic accuracy.

Grief-informed practitioners that understand how grief affects both parents and adopted persons.

Therapist-facilitated group work to help those affected successfully reintegrate into society and feel like a productive part of society again.

Access to long-term counselling.

Established guidelines for therapists around disclosure of their involvement or experiences with forced adoption.

104Training and research

Psychologists, therapists and counsellors with specialist skills in treating the impacts of forced adoption, including trauma-related symptoms, attachment disruption, abuse, and grief and loss.

Better education and training on the impacts and experiences of forced adoption to mental health professionals before they enter the workforce— for example, through universities—as well as providing on-the-job training and professional development opportunities.

Accreditation to work in the adoption field or an enforced code of practice.

105Information and research

Identify evidence-base trauma therapies for treating trauma symptoms.

Change practitioners’ perceptions by linking the long-term impacts of forced adoption to other events, such as childhood abuse, which result in similar long-term effects.

Include more information around the impact of forced adoption in National Mental Health Standards.

Present findings from the AIFS National Study at conferences, and publish articles in relevant mental health professional magazines/journals.

Facilitate research that informs policies and service providers on best practice approaches for treating people affected by forced adoptions.

Improve general awareness through targeted messages in the media—for example, a special edition of a professional magazine on adoption.

Facilitate access to information about forced adoption, including the history of adoption practices and the long-term effects it has had on people—for example, through a national website on forced adoption.

Publish articles on the impact of forced adoption in professional journals and magazines—for example, In Psych

106Service-system and referral pathway

Improve and facilitate access to treatment for clients who have not been diagnosed with a condition.

Increase specialist service accessibility in regional areas.

Provide access to a range of skilled psychologists so clients can choose the one they believe is the most suitable to provide support for their individual needs.

Provide access to Medicare-funded chronic health condition plans.

Provide access to free DNA testing to help identify medical conditions.

Provide a list or a centralised database of preferred and specialised service providers from which GPs and adoption-related services can make client referrals.

A range of service providers so that potential service users are not discouraged from receiving treatment if they perceive certain agencies to be “compromised”.

Brokerage funding that assists people access the support they need, including transport fees.

Provide people affected with a “gold card” for access to mental health services (e.g., no waiting periods, no cost, and choice of counsellors and therapists).