On behalf of Mental Health Australia I want to offer our sincere congratulations to the National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Forum (the Forum) on its 20-year anniversary milestone.

The group was established in 2002 as the National Consumer and Carer Forum (NCCF). One of the earliest documents they produced in 2004 - the “Consumer and Carer Participation Policy: A Framework for the Mental Health Sector” was a great resource used by the sector for many years with the principles still extremely relevant today. 

There are many people who been part of the Forum over these 20 years and we acknowledge each and every one of them and their contributions.

We also want to acknowledge the shared journey of Mental Health Australia and the Forum since the beginning. As a result of our shared journey we have placed lived experience leadership at the centre of Mental Health Australia’s Strategic Plan and the advocacy of the Forum and their persistence in underlining how critical that voice is to mental health reform has been a big part of the direction the Board has taken.

There is no doubt that the Forum has become a force for change in this country and a respected and valued model of positive and cohesive lived experience leadership. You are an example to us all and we are proud to share the sector with you and a shared vision of ensuring those with lived experience of mental illness and those who love and care for them are at the centre of national reform.

As always, the Members Policy Forum will be held the day after the Grace Groom Memorial Oration at Old Parliament House. The Forum – focused on workforce – will commence at 9.00am and finish at 2.00pm (AEDT). Registrations will open at 8.30am with tea and coffee upon arrival. 

 Note: This event is for Mental Health Australia members only. 

Mental Health Australia has developed a position statement on employment and mental health, in consultation with members and representatives with lived experience. The position statement outlines key actions to improve employment participation and opportunities for people with experience of mental health challenges, and follows Mental Health Australia members highlighting employment as a key social determinant priority. Mental Health Australia will use this statement to inform future advocacy, particularly in relation to the White Paper on Employment.

This week we were delighted to launch the Final Report and Literature Review on the research piece 'Understanding Mental Health and Stigma in Congolese, Arabic-speaking and Mandarin-speaking Communities'.

This research was conducted by Western Sydney University in collaboration with the Embrace Multicultural Mental Health Project and funded by Mental Health Australia Ltd.

Access and download the Final Report here.

Access and download and Literature Review here.

Embrace multicultural mental health have compiled resources with advice from the CALD Mental Health Lived Experience Group which are available in 19 different languages to help community leaders recognise if someone needs to seek help for their mental health and measures to seek help. 

Some of these resources are links to mental health and wellbeing support organisations.

The Line operates Monday to Friday between 9:00 am and 4:30 pm.

The Transcultural Mental Health Line is a telephone service available to support people who live in NSW and who are from culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

Importantly, language and different cultural understandings of mental health can impact the way people access services.

The Line is specifically focused on supporting people from CALD communities to get the help they need, with a specialist team of health care professionals who speak their language and understand their mental health concern from shared cultural perspectives. 

The service provides brief over-the-phone and telehealth support for callers, including in-language information and support for carers and family members of a person with a mental health concern.

The Line will also provide information for callers on how to access mental health care and it will be able to connect them with relevant services and community support.

For more information on the Transcultural Mental Health Line visit: https://www.dhi.health.nsw.gov.au/tmhl 

For Transcultural Mental Health Line Resources in Your Language

Download postcards about the Transcultural Mental Health Line in your language below.

The Gidget Foundation Australia People and Culture Manager will be responsible for leading a team that strives to create a productive, safe, and happy workplace for both employees and the Foundation.

The role is responsible for recruitment, employment policies and procedures, assisting with performance and review requirements, overseeing payroll and recognition programs as well as managing workplace safety initiatives.

The People and Culture Manager will be approachable with the ability to listen carefully and speak with sensitivity and clarity.

Mind the gap!
The gap between railway station platforms and the train can be a danger for all passengers getting on or off the train.  The risk increases for people who use wheelchairs and other mobility devices and other people with disability.

How to help?
We need feedback from wheelchair users and other people with disability about:
1. The platform gaps and any challenge you have with this
2. Trying out automated platform ramps that might fix the problem.
 
Do you qualify?
To participate you must be based in the Melbourne Metro and 

- Have lived experience of disability, particularly mobility
- Experience using public transport along with transport services or wanting to use public transport, but you can’t because of the platform gap.
- Be available to visit La Trobe University in Bundoora, Melbourne, for a two-hour session on Wednesday 23rd November or Thursday 24th November

Interested? How to apply ?
If you are interested in being a part of this focus group, email to nick.wilson@afdo.org.au
Please include your name, address, best contact number, nature of your disability.

Applications close 21/11/22

We know how important it is for Victorians – sons, daughters, parents, friends and workmates – to be able to get the mental health support they need in their own community.

The system has for too long been too difficult to navigate – which is why it’s vital to provide a
‘front door’ to the mental health system with free and accessible help before people reach a crisis point.

We’re delivering every recommendation of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System and we’ve invested more than $6 billion in the system in the past three budgets alone, but we know there’s more to do.

As flooding continues to cause significant damage and disruption across the
east coast, the Australian Government is providing an extra $9.7 million to
impacted communities to boost mental health supports and respond to the
public health risks posed by mosquito-borne diseases.

More than 135 Local Government Areas across New South Wales, Victoria and
Tasmania have experienced flooding in recent months. This has devastated
communities, the environment, and infrastructure and is taking a toll on the
mental and physical health of many Australians.

A report released today into the rate of suicide among current and former serving Australian
Defence Force (ADF) personnel reaffirms that suicide prevention must be a matter of national priority.

The report, Serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force members who have served since 1985 suicide monitoring: 1997 to 2020, prepared by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, is the fifth annual suicide monitoring report commissioned by the Department of
Veterans’ Affairs (DVA).

Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Defence Personnel Matt Keogh says the death of any current or former serving ADF member is a tragedy felt deeply by all in the Defence and veteran communities.

A major study has shown that healthcare and social assistance workers are twice as likely to file a workplace compensation claim for psychological injuries, compared to a similar dataset of workers in all non-healthcare industries, including construction, retail and law-enforcement services. The in-depth study of deidentified data from more than 200,000 workers is supported by three leading Australian universities - the University of Sydney, Monash University, and Curtin University - and is launched today as part of the Design for Care consortium - a solutions-focused research project funded by icare (the NSW public insurer). The data provides an insight of how psychological injury claims have grown rapidly in the healthcare and social assistance industries in NSW over the past nine years, with nurses, midwives, ambulance officers and social workers revealed as highly impacted jobs.

A report released today into the rate of suicide among current and former serving Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel reaffirms that suicide prevention must be a matter of national priority. The report, Serving and ex serving Australian Defence Force members who have served since 1985 suicide monitoring: 1997 to 2020, prepared by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, is the fifth annual suicide monitoring report commissioned by the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA). Minister for Veterans' Affairs and Defence Personnel, Matt Keogh, says the death of any current or former serving ADF member is a tragedy felt deeply by all in the Defence and veteran communities. "Sadly, this latest report found that 1,600 ADF members and veterans with service after 1985 died by suicide between 1997 and 2020," he said.

Perth Inner City Youth Services (PICYS) will expand its PICYS PILLAR program thanks to an additional $344,000 in State Government grant funding announced by Youth Minister Dave Kelly today. The PICYS PILLAR program provides services to highly vulnerable young people who have experienced homelessness and mental health concerns and other complex high support needs - the majority of young people coming to PICYS PILLAR identify as LGBTIQA+. Currently core funding for the service, which is provided by the Mental Health Commission and commenced in 2020, enables PICYS to support 15 clients.

Jobs and Skills Australia (JSA) has today been formally established, after legislation passed through Parliament and received Royal Ascent. Minister for Skills and Training, the Hon Brendan O'Connor MP, said JSA will begin its important work providing independent advice to government on current and emerging workforce needs. "JSA will have a tripartite approach with state and territory governments, employers, business peaks, unions and training providers to provide independent advice to government on current and emerging workforce needs. "Australia faces one of its biggest economic challenges in decades - a lack of skilled workers across the labour market," Minister O'Connor said. "We have invested an additional $12.9 million in last month's budget to help JSA more precisely identify and anticipate skills shortages, based on the best available evidence."

New and expecting families in NSW are being encouraged to reach out to mental health and wellbeing supports this Perinatal Mental Health Week (6 - 12 November). Minister for Women and Minister for Mental Health Bronnie Taylor said whilst pregnancy and the first year of parenthood can be a wonderful time for many, experiencing depression and anxiety during this period is not uncommon. "We know that 13 per cent of new mothers and up to 1 in 10 new fathers develop depression and anxiety, which is why we are encouraging families to be aware of the signs, and seek help if they are concerned," Mrs Taylor said. "Welcoming a baby to the family is busy and overwhelming, however, if you're experiencing long periods of low moods, a persistent feeling of hopelessness or worthlessness, support is available.

A re-elected Andrews Labor Government will support Extended Families Australia to continue connecting young people with disability and their families with their community. We'll provide a $50,000 grant, helping Extended Families' volunteers to support children and young people with disability and their families with companionship, friendship and practical assistance in their day-to-day lives. The "foster" grandparents, aunties, uncles, brothers, sisters and mentors of Extended Families - and their flexible support options - help people with disabilities and their families fully participate in all areas of life and their community. The work of Extended Families, with its central office in Coburg, is breaking down barriers, changing social attitudes and creating positive opportunities for both the people they support and their volunteers.

Lived Experience Australia (LEA), in collaboration with the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) Community Collaboration Committee (CCC), commenced this research project to better understand loneliness and its effects, particularly in relation to mental health, physical health, families, and wellbeing. It was important to understand what supports people felt may help overcome their loneliness.

TBT-S (Temperament Based Therapy with Supports) is eating disorder treatment for children, adolescents and adults. 

TBT-S uses experiential therapy to help the person with an eating disorder (and their support people) understand how their symptoms can be explained by their temperament – an umbrella term involving biology, brain functioning, genetics and personality traits.

Register for the online launch of Australia's first National Safety and Quality Mental Health Standards for Community Managed Organisations.

When:  Wednesday 23 November, 12:00pm–12:30pm AEDT
Format: Webcast conversation 

The Standards will provide safety and quality assurance for consumers, their families and carers who use mental health services, and best practice guidance for community managed service providers. 

Learn how the new Standards will benefit consumers, how mental health community organisations can implement them and next steps for accreditation.

Expert presenters:

David McGrath - Executive Lead, Mental Health Standards, Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care 

Carmel Tebbutt - Chief Executive Officer, Mental Health Coordinating Council, NSW

This event is relevant to mental health community managed organisations, peak bodies, consumers and carers, funders and regulators. 

For more information, email mentalhealth@safetyandquality.gov.au.

The Strategy is being developed in partnership with people with lived experience and people who have been directly affected by stigma, along with people with other forms of expertise across the health sector and broader community.

The Commission has established a Steering Committee and series of Technical Advisory Groups to guide the development of the National Stigma and Discrimination Reduction Strategy. The Steering Committee and Technical Advisory Groups are co-chaired by people with lived experience and people with other forms of expertise in the specific settings the strategy aims to change.

The Strategy’s focus and objectives include:

- Reduce self-stigma amongst those who experience mental ill-health and those who support them.
- Reduce public stigma by changing attitudes and behaviours in the general community and amongst identified target audiences.
- Take steps towards eliminating structural stigma and discrimination towards those affected by mental ill-health in identified settings.

Over five engrossing episodes, Mary O’Hagan, Victoria’s inaugural Executive Director of Lived Experience, and Dr Ruth Vine, psychiatrist and Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Mental Health, discuss the effectiveness of the mental health system in responding to mental health pain and distress from their respective – and at times contrasting perspectives.

Tune in to hear them discuss the effectiveness of current risk management approaches to contain psychotic episodes, the value of peer-led services, their respective definitions of what is mental illness, and their shared challenges in finding a balance between the biological, psychological and social approaches to treatment, and so much more.

While they don’t agree on everything, they do agree on the value and importance of conversations like these to help appreciate and learn from each other’s points of view. Visit MHPN Presents, In Conversation With . . . on MHPN’s website for all the episodes, by clicking on the link below.

The Standards are a significant step in providing safety and quality assurance for consumers, their families and carers who use mental health services, and best practice guidance for community managed service providers. 

The Commission is releasing the Standards following extensive consultation with consumers, families and carers, community managed organisations, peak bodies, healthcare providers, professional bodies, Primary Health Networks and funders.

Join the launch to hear from guest speakers during a 30-minute webcast on how the new Standards will benefit consumers, why mental health community organisations should implement them and next steps for accreditation. 

When:  Wednesday 23 November, 12:00pm–12:30pm AEDT

Expert presenters

David McGrath – Executive Lead, Mental Health Standards, Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care 

Carmel Tebbutt – Chief Executive Officer, Mental Health Coordinating Council, NSW

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission) is seeking feedback on the Accreditation scheme for the National Safety and Quality Mental Health (NSQMH) Standards for Community Managed Organisations (CMOs).

The Commission has released a discussion paper to provide information to support stakeholders to participate in this consultation, please find the document attached. This discussion paper provides information on the operation of the Australian Health Services Safety and Quality Accreditation Scheme and seeks stakeholders’ views on the accreditation methodology that best suits the CMO sector, within the bounds of that scheme.

The NSQMH Standards for CMOs will be released in November 2022. The NSQMH Standards for CMOs describe a nationally consistent safety and quality framework that all community managed organisations providing mental health services can apply when delivering mental health care. Where implemented, consumers and carers should be able to be confident they are accessing a mental health service that is safe and of high-quality.

CMOs implementing the NSQMH Standards for CMOs will develop their own practice governance frameworks. How this looks will depend on the mental health service’s size, as well as risks and complexities associated with the services it delivers. Implementation requires a whole-of-service approach.

We invite you to provide your feedback via a written submission or participation in a focus group. Please visit the website - https://www.eventbrite.com.au/o/australian-commission-on-safety-and-quality-in-health-care-32829455729 to register to attend an information webinar of focus group. 

The consultation period is open now until 11.59pm (AEDT) Friday 9 December 2022.

If you have any questions about the accreditation scheme discussion paper or the consultation process, please contact the mental health team at: mentalhealth@safetyandquality.gov.au

Emerging Minds has recently launched Emerging Minds Families – a brand new range of resources for parents and families looking for information and support about infant and child mental health. 

The resources – including videos, factsheets, animations and podcasts – are free and have been developed in collaboration with families, practitioners and researchers. They are designed for practitioners to share and use with the parents and families they work with, or for parents and families to access directly. 

Topics include

- Supporting parents and families living with mental illness 
- Responding to and managing the impact of natural disasters including floods, bushfire and drought  
- Understanding and managing anxiety in children and young people, and 
- Infant mental health and wellbeing. 

Visit the Emerging Minds website to access the resources and subscribe to the Emerging Minds Families newsletter for the latest updates and releases.

When Friday 25 November 2022, registration from 8:15am

Where Sydney Masonic Centre, 66 Goulburn St, Sydney

Occupational Therapy Australia is pleased to invite you to participate in the 2022 OT Mental Health Forum 2022.

The forum is an invaluable event for occupational therapists and support workers who work across every area of mental health practice in Australia.

The forum provides the opportunity to come together and exchange ideas, to share practices and challenges, to network and meet new colleagues and to learn from an exciting array of current OT mental health practitioners and researchers.