The Directory of Bilingual/Bicultural Mental Health Practitioners

5th Edition

The 1st edition of the Directory was launched in 1996. This and subsequent editions, were positively received by consumers and service providers within the transcultural mental health field. It was acknowledged that such a resource was a necessity as the population of Western Australia continues to become increasingly multicultural. The Directory symbolizes growing recognition of the importance of providing our burgeoning migrant and refugee population with culturally-appropriate mental health services.

The Directory comprises a list of mental health and general practitioners, and service providers who provide services to WA's multicultural population group. The inclusion of general practitioners recognises the fact that people from CALD background with mental health problems may prefer to see general practitioners who speak their preferred language. We are aware that general practitioners are often the first and only 'port of call' for people from CALD background who have a mental health problem. Contact details and information surrounding practitioners' special areas of interest and the language(s) other than English in which they are fluent and which they are prepared to speak in a clinical consultation without the use of interpreter services. The Directory also includes a list of the languages and dialects spoken in countries around the world, as well as a quick reference guide to mental health services.

To ensure a reasonable level of currency and in response to a continuing strong demand for culturally-responsive services for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, the Centre is committed to revise the Directory on a regular basis.

If you are a bilingual/bicultural mental health or general practitioner and wish to be included in the next edition of the Directory, please email Valza Thomas at the West Australian Transcultural Mental Health Centre at Valza.Thomas@health.wa.gov.au