Research Assignment
Important Note:
*To meet the requirements of this assessment you will need to access a real community services organisation that provides treatment or programs for mental health or alcohol and other drug (AOD) clients. Contact with clients is not required. In all parts that require a workplace or contact with a colleague, your response must include the role of your contact person, the name of the organisation, the time and place of meeting/contact, and any other relevant information.
*If you are completing this section in simulation follow the ‘AboutSimulation' instructions.
Part A
In the previous Research Case Study about Courtney in the AOD facility, most of you realised that Courtney's behaviour was typical of a teenager suffering from depression. In this assessment you are required to conduct research into a mental health issue, such as depression, or another issue relevant to your area of practice, incorporating similar research methodology to that of the Research Case Study.
1. Evaluate the websites of the organisations in the table in terms of their relevance for gathering information on mental health issuesand their credibility.
From the Module 6 Templates file find a Word version of the table below. Complete the table.
Website address Organisation/institution name Relevance and credibility
Beyond Blue
Lifeline
Wikipedia
depressionet
ecouch
mindhealthconnect
SANE Australia
2. Before deciding on research objectives, it is important you have a conversation with a mental health worker/stakeholder to gather industry intelligence on trends in mental health treatment. Your conversation can be in person, over the phone or through email.
i. Outline two items of industry intelligence you learned from your mental health stakeholder.
(Up to 100 words)
Part B
In this part of the assignment you will establish your research objectives and conduct the research. Your research should be related to a mental health issue of relevance to your workplace stakeholder's field of practice.
After conducting your research you will have the opportunity to report your findings back to your workplace stakeholder and make some recommendations.
1. From the Module 6 Templates file find a Word version of the table below. Use the table to record and report your findings.
Research Findings
1 Title of Research
2 Clearly defined research objectives (x2)
3 Relevance to your own work practice - include your work related objectives and work requirements
4 Methods you used to gather your information
5 How you went about comparing and contrasting the different information sources
6 Your established criteria for prioritising and organising your gathered information
7 Organise your information so it is easy to analyse. (attach a printout showing your organised information/information summary)
8 Explain how you applied each of the following research requirements into your analysis:
i. strength
ii. relevance
iii. reliability
iiii. currency
v. feasibility
vi. risks
vii. benefits
9 Outline your Research findings (Approximately 200 words)
10 Your established criteria for prioritising and organising your gathered information
2. Write an email for your workplace stakeholder and include the following points:
i. your research objectives based on the mental health issue with an aim to support and improve work practice
ii. If you found the industry intelligence that was shared with you helpful in conducting your research objectives
iii. an outline of the research you undertook, including the main websites/organisations you referred to for information
iiii. two evidence-based actions for how your research findings could be utilised or influence, practices in their workplace
v. the feasibility, benefits, and risks of each idea
vi. two areas that you believe still require further research and evaluation
vii. two recommendations
3. Write an email for your workplace stakeholder outlining:
i. the ways your research findings could be utilised in the treatment facility, including the feasibility, the benefits, and the risks
ii. any current practices at the facility that you recommend should be changed
iii. the duty of care to be applied along with all evidence-based new practices.