Speech and language therapists work within mental health services to:

• Provide assessment, diagnosis and intervention for a wide range of speech, language, communication and swallowing disorders where these occur within the context of the person’s mental health disorder.
• Increase accessibility of mental health services, including e-health, for those with speech, language and communication needs.
• Ensure the voices of those with speech, language, communication, and swallowing needs are represented throughout mental health services, and particularly in peer run/peer led services.
• Support the implementation of a Human Rights approach in mental health services, particularly in relation to decision making supports, in advocacy, and in reducing the risk of seclusion and restraint support for those who access mental health services, their families, carers and supporter (FCS) and the mental health service in general to improve and maintain the safety and physical well-being of those who experience swallowing difficulties within the context of their mental health difficulty (IASLT, 2020).