While the Coalition, ALP and Greens made significant commitments to mental health during the 2016 federal election campaign, unfortunately it did not result in the full scale commitment to the improved outcomes for people with mental health issues and their families sought by the sector.

WAAMH will provide an opportunity for individual and organisational members to directly influence our priorities when we hold the first of our member Mental Health Community Leaders Network forums for 2016, on August 5. These events will shape WAAMH’s agenda in the lead up to the March 2017 state election.

Mental Health Week 2016 is nearing and this year, in addition to the Act-Belong-Commit theme, has an important focus on suicide prevention under the theme of 'Together We Can Save Lives'. There are still exciting opportunities to sponsor events and activities throughout the week, and more details can be found below. 

Rod Astbury
Chief Executive Officer
WA Association for Mental Health

In the lead up to the federal election, WAAMH wrote to 165 Western Australian candidates seeking their commitment to Mental Health Australia’s five key priorities for mental health reform. View a copy of the letter, the Report Card of responses and specific party responses here.

While significant mental health election commitments were made by the Coalition, ALP and Greens, the election process did not result in the full scale commitment to the improved outcomes envisaged by the campaign.

We will continue to advocate for improved community mental health so that long-term mental health reforms increase investment into prevention, early intervention and community-based services.

Last week (3-10 July) was NAIDOC week (National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee).

NAIDOC week is a time to celebrate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history, culture and achievements, and an opportunity to recognise the contributions that Indigenous Australians make to our country and our society.

WAAMH acknowledges the continuing culture of Western Australian Aboriginal peoples. We are committed to engaging with Aboriginal peoples and assisting our members to deliver culturally sensitive services to Aboriginal peoples and their communities. Read more about WAAMH's Aboriginal Engagement work, here. 

WAAMH's IPS Development Unit is undergoing a re-brand and will soon be launching IPS WORKS. A new website will be available soon at www.ipsworks.waamh.org.au

The final National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) My Way Community of Practice meeting addressed the drivers of change in the trial sites over the last 12 to 18 months.

To read the blog, 'Making change in complex systems', click here.

The last blog in the Community of Practice series will be published later this month. 

Community engagement for the NDIS in WA began on 24 June 2016. This state-wide process will seek feedback on what Western Australians expect from the NDIS in this state.

The Ministerial Advisory Council on Disability will be regularly releasing discussion papers on their website to stimulate feedback around key topics relevant to the implementation of the NDIS in WA.

The first two papers on Planning, Information Linkages and Capacity Building are available for comment now. Additional discussion papers on the subjects of the Western Australian Disability Sector, Regional and Remote areas, Information and Advocacy, and Psychosocial Disability will be released soon.

The first of July marked the commencement of the implementation of the full NDIS scheme across Australia, except in WA where the arrangements are yet to be finalised.

The Commonwealth and WA State Governments intend to agree on plans for the State-wide roll out in WA by October 2016, with the rollout expected to start on 1 July 2017.

WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA) has released their first stakeholder newsletter. 

To read their newsletter, click here. 

The Department of Health, in partnership with the Mental Health Commission, held the inaugural open meeting of the Multicultural Mental Health Sub Network on Monday 20 June 2016 in Perth. 

The Mental Health Sub Networks structure has been created to support the Mental Health Network to build clinical networks that are respectful, cooperative, efficient, person-centred and supportive of recovery principles. Attendees of the meeting were invited to actively participate in the Multicultural Mental Health Sub Network and help shape its priorities.

The Impulse Control Support Service of WA is seeking Board Members and Supporters, particularly in the fields of Health, Corrections & Suicide Prevention.

The Services vision is 'That individuals affected by Impulse Control Disorders will have an equal chance at living a meaningful, harmonious and inspiring life through education and support'. The service aims to create a treatment specific centre for generic impulse control support, encapsulating multiple conditions without the stigma of a diagnostic label.

For more information please contact ICSSWA@yahoo.com

The Mental Health Co-Response Trial is a collaborative approach between WA Police, Department of Health and Mental Health Commission aimed at diverting people with mental illness away from the criminal justice system to the health and support networks they need. 

The initiative commenced in January 2016 as a two-year trial and will be evaluated by Edith Cowan University.  WA Police, Department of Health and Mental Health Commission have developed the intervention model consisting of a mental health triage capability at the Police Operations Centre, two mobile co-response teams and a senior clinician at the Perth Watch House. The coordination between key partners in the trial is an important step towards reducing criminal recidivism for people with mental health issues through early intervention and enhanced assessment, treatment and support.

It is anticipated the trial will improve transportation outcomes for mental health consumers, engagement of consumers and advocates, provide police with specialist training and decrease the number of admissions and admission time at Emergency Departments.

The Mental Health Co-Response team can be contacted at Mental.Health.Co-Response@police.wa.gov.au

Informed by the Communities of Practice, WAAMH’s submission to the National Disability Advocacy Program (NDAP) honed in on consumer, carer and sector organisation's calls for strong independent advocacy to be available for people wishing to access the NDIS.

It supported Consumers of Mental Health WA (CoMHWA)’s recommendation for peer advocacy to be a form of advocacy specifically recognised by the program. 

To read the submission, click here. 

WAAMH's advocacy on the Criminal Law (Mentally Impaired Accused) (CLMIA) Act 1996 in the past month has included meeting with Mental Health Minister, Hon Andrea Mitchell MLA, whose response indicated support for the Review Report recommendations rather than the mental health sector’s agreed priorities.

WAAMH also met with the Nationals in WA to seek their response. With no response to our request to the Attorney General for a timeframe for reform, WAAMH's focus will be to seek strong election commitments from each party in the lead up to the state election.

The Productivity Commission is conducting an inquiry into Human Services. The inquiry follows the Harper Competition Policy Review recommendation that the human services sector be assessed to see where there would be opportunity to apply competition principles.

The inquiry is being conducted in stages. The first stage will look to identify which human services will respond best to users being offered more choice over the services they need. In the second stage, market design and incentive structures relevant to each prospective service will be proposed.

Submissions are now open until 25 July 2016. Information on how to make a submission, which can be a short comment submitted online, can be found here. 

Women's health organisations are calling for an Australian Women's Health Charter to focus national action on women's mental health.

Women who experience three or more forms of gender-based violence have a lifetime rate of mental disorder of 89.4 percent compared to 28 percent for women who have not experienced violence. The group highlights the higher rates of mental illness that women experience and are calling for a gender lens to be cast over the issue.

For more information, visit here. 

Results of a new audit revealed rates of Indigenous suicide in the Kimberley region over the last ten years were seven times the national average. While the national rate is about 12 people dying by suicide for every 100,000 people, rates in the Kimberley region were 74 people per 100,000.

You are invited to be part of the action and sponsor Mental Health Week in 2016. Join the below sponsors who have already come on-board:

• Gold - Black Swan Health
• Silver - HelpingMinds and MercyCare
• Bronze - Rise Network, Mission Australia, Southern Cross Care (WA), St Bartholomew's House and Neami National
• Better thank OK: Parenting Forum - Anglicare WA
• Arts and Mental Health Network Arts Exhibition - Southern Cross Care (WA)
• Workplace Wellness Sessions - The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists

This year's theme for WA's Mental Health Week is Act-Belong-Commit with a focus on suicide prevention, under the theme of 'Together we can save lives'.

The week is a national and annual event, and engages with around 15,000 people in WA. An exciting schedule of events, materials and activities during the week provides sponsors with an opportunity to promote their products, services and brand through cause-related marketing to a large portion of the WA community. To find out more, click here.

See your artwork in print during Mental Health Week! 

To help teachers integrate Mental Health Week in their classrooms and create awareness of mental health among students, we host an annual school poster competition.

For more information, click here. 

Every year, WAAMH provides grants of up to $300 for individuals and $400 for agencies to invest in quality of life projects or activities. These could include holidays, outings, social events or group activities.

If you are you an individual, or a group that has members who have been diagnosed with a mental health issue, then you are eligible to apply for a grant.

Grant applications close on 22 July 2016. To find out more or apply, visit here.

In response to a WA Department of Health review of the physical health of mental health consumers, The University of Western Australia and the Mental Health Commission have released an assessment and monitoring package for consumers, carers and clinicians;

‘Clinical Guidelines for the Physical Care of Mental Health Consumers’.

The package features handbooks addressing five areas that impact the physical health of mental health consumers; lifestyle, physical conditions, alcohol & illicit drugs, social factors and medication effects. The handbooks can guide consumers and carers in making informed decisions to aid in the physical care of themselves and their families.

If you, or the consumers or carers in your networks are interested in accessing the package, please click here. 

WAAMH has established the Mental Health Community Leadership Network to:

• Inform members on the mental health reform agenda
• Share knowledge and deepen understanding
• Facilitate thinking together
• Connect members’ reality on the ground with WAAMH’s strategic view to inform WAAMH’s activity going forward.

The Mental Health Community Leadership Network will provide an opportunity for members to directly influence WAAMHs priorities and is open to full Individual and Organisational members of WAAMH.

Save the date for the first meeting. More information will be available soon. 

• Date 5 August 2016
• Time: 9:00am to 12:30pm
• Location: WAAMH offices, 1 Nash St Perth

To become a member visit here.

A Well Ways workshop will provide a broad and sensitive perspective to the many issues facing families as they manage the impact of drugs and/or alcohol and mental illness on their lives.

Families, carers and friends have the opportunity to develop a better idea of what is needed to take the path to recovery and to increase their ability to care effectively for themselves, other family members, and the person living with a mental illness, and drug and alcohol use issues.

• Date: 6 & 13 August 2016
• Time: 1:00pm to 5:00pm
• Location: Level 3, 9 The Avenue, Midland
• RSVP: uli.schoen@mifwa.org.au / 9237 8900

MI Recovery is a program designed and led by people with a lived experience of mental illness. MI Recovery supports participants to recognise personal strengths, find new ways to manage mental illness and plan for the future.

• Date: 16 August to 18 October 2016
• Time: 10:30am to 2:00pm
• Location: The Salvation Army Rockingham, 5 Wilmott Drive, Cooloongup
• RSVP: uli.schoen@mifwa.org.au / 9237 8900

Join Shelter WA at the National Launch of Homelessness Week 2016.  This will be the first time Perth hosts the national launch of this important event. Speakers include:

 - Jenny Smith, Chair of Homelessness Australia
 - Andrea Mitchell MLA, Minister for Mental Health; Child Protection 
 - Chantal Roberts, EO Shelter WA

• Date: 1 August 2016
• Time: 8:30am to 9:30am
• Location: Art Gallery of Western Australia
• RSVP: This is a FREE event – Register here.

Shelter WA has invited State based representatives from the major political parties to outline what homelessness policies they will bring to the State election in early 2017. This is your opportunity to influence key decision makers in housing and homelessness policy to bring about a reduction in homelessness in WA. Panellists include:
  - Hon. Lynn MacLaren MLC (Greens, WA)
  - Hon. Francis (Fran) Logan MLA; Shadow Minister for Housing; Local Jobs; Training and Workforce Development

• Date: 4 August 2016
• Time: 11:00am to 1:00pm
• Location: Central Park Convention Centre Perth, 152-158 St George's Terrace
• RSVP: This is a FREE event – Register here.

The 12th Biennial Asia Pacific (AsPac) International Mental Health Conference will bring together progressive thought leaders in mental health and related sectors to share experiences, discuss what works and develop hopeful and effective recovery solutions for people and their families.

AsPac is designed to challenge our thinking through inclusive dialogue and debate and cross-cultural learnings.

Date: 24-26 October 2016
Location: Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre
To register, click here.

Several new staff have started at WAAMH over the last month. We'd like to welcome Melanie Cooper, Manager Corporate Services, Michael Jones, Executive Manager of Programs and Catherine Harper, Events Officer and look forward to their contribution to WAAMH and the wider community managed mental health sector. 

To read more about WAAMH's staff, click here. 

Melanie Cooper, Manager Corporate Services

Michael Jones, Executive Manager of Programs

Catherine Harper, Events Officer 

There are new positions available, please click the links to find out more:

WAAMH IMPACT Project Officer

Spirit of the Streets Board Secretary

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