WAAMH welcomed the Western Australian Government's 10 year mental health plan, released in early December.

WAAMH president Alison Xamon liked that the plan was built around 'recovery' principles, a person-centred, individualised and evidence-based approach; and consumer, family and carer inclusion.

"This brings mental health service delivery in WA in line with global best practice," she said. "We especially welcome the focus on youth mental health services as effective intervention with young people is essential to break the cycle of intergenerational mental ill-health."

WAAMH also supported the closure of Graylands Hospital, the investment in early intervention, and intention to improve front line emergency responses.

However, WAAMH was concerned with the at the long timeframe indicated for additional acute and sub-acute forensic beds, and looming Federal Government funding uncertainty to back the State plan.

Feedback on the plan is due in March 2015, and WAAMH will keep in touch to seek your input..

Read the 10 year Mental Health Plan

Read WAAMH's Media Release on the plan

IF you haven't already signed up for our Shine Mental Health eLearning program, now is the chance.

Shine is a an eLearning recovery orientation package providing an online educational resource primarily for people entering the mental health sector or working with people who have a mental illness and their supports.

Developed in Western Australia by mental health specialists, the training modules draw on the expertise of respected professionals in the sector.

Each module contains evidence-based content, multimedia, activities, knowledge checks and recommended reference material.

This invaluable learning tool offers organisations and their staff an enhancement to traditional orientation programs. It is the most convenient and cost-effective method for employees to increase their general knowledge base and better understand the mental health sector, aided by a flexible timeframe and easy-to-read format.

Sign up and begin immediately - shine.waamh.org.au

OUR joint submission to WA's Attorney General with urgent recommendations to review the Criminal Law Mentally Impaired Accused Act was finalised last week.

This submission was published by WAAMH, in consultation with its members and collectively developed and endorsed by Consumers of Mental Health WA (Inc), Developmental Disability WA, Richmond Fellowship of WA, Debora Colvin Head of Council of Official Visitors, Carers WA, Mental Health Carers Arafmi (WA) Inc, People With Disabilities Western Australia, Bridget Silvestri, Antonio Silvestri, Alan Robinson, Seamus Murphy, Mental Health Matters 2 and the Aboriginal Disability Justice Campaign.

Download the final version of our CLMIA submission here.

WAAMH CEO Rod Astbury and board member Jacqui Carter provided evidence to the Senate Economics Reference Committee into Affordable Housing on 11th November.

This followed on from WAAMH's earlier written submission to the inquiry, which can be found here.

PENCIL in the 17th February 2015 for this free seminar providing more information in anticiaption of the WA Recovery College.This will be an important occasion to hear two internationally reknowned experts share their research from the UK Recovery College.

Centre for Mental Health's Geoff Shepheard will speak about his development of the Implementing Mental Health Recovery through Organisational Change (ImROC) and  Jane McGregor will talk about the work she has done with the Nottingham Recovery College.

Jane is an educational researcher and consultant with ImROC in the UK and will share her study of the characteristics of the Nottingham Recovery College.

ARE you an existing or potential mental health support worker who would like a nationally recognised formal qualification? The Certificate IV course which commences in February 2015 may be what you are looking for to make that change and make a difference.

Designed to provide participants with a range of rehabilitation and support skills, this six month course focuses on recovery oriented, community-based support, intervention and promotional work.

Choose from either a Monday or Saturday class which will run over 16 weeks and cover 15 units in mental health recovery.

For more information and to register for the Monday course, click here or for Saturday's course, click here.

WAAMH was delighted to be involved with the Looking Forward Project and Aboriginal Elders this year, and celebrated alongside other agencies in the mental health sector at a Christmas gathering last week.

Building on the landmark foundations made this year, we hope to move forward even further together in 2015.
Caption (from left): Telethon Kids Institute founding director Fiona Stanley, Aunty Helen Kickett, Uncle Charlie Kickett, Palmerston Association CEO Sheila McHale.
The project is located on Wadjuk Boodja and we pay our respects to the Elders past and present and thanks them for their guidance.

THE Second Edition of Working Together: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health and Wellbeing Principles and Practice 2014, edited by Pat Dudgeon, Helen Milroy and Roz Walker, is now available both in hard copy and online.

This edition examines issues across the life course, with a greater focus on children and young people; the significant impacts of mental health in the justice system; the cultural determinants of social and emotional wellbeing and intellectual and development disabilities. It includes holistic models of care, as well as interdisciplinary and inter-professional approaches and working with carers.

The book was developed as an information source for health professionals working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with social and emotional wellbeing, and  contains comprehensive and culturally appropriate information.

The book is divided into six parts:

• History and Contexts
• Issues and Influences
• Standards, Principles and Practice
• Assessment and Management
• Working with Children, Families and Communities
• Healing Models and Programs

While the book itself is FREE, due to postage and handling requirements, a cost will now apply for delivery.

Please click on the following link to complete your order and calculate the cost of delivery: https://workingtogether.infoservices.com.au/

You can also visit the Working Together website where you can:

• Download the free PDF version in full or by individual chapters
• Access the new eBook
• Order hard copies
• Participate in a short evaluation survey

VOLUNTEERING WA, together with the Institute of Project Management, are researching the economic, social and cultural value of volunteering to WA.

They are inviting volunteer involving organisations to participate in a survey to assist their research.

The survey is best completed by the Volunteer Manager or senior person within the organisation and just ONE response per organisation is needed.

COMPLETE THE SURVEY HERE

This survey aims to:

• Place figures and evidence around the social, economic and cultural contributions that volunteering makes to WA
• Provide up-to-date and robust information and advice to decision-makers and other stakeholders, helping them to make sound strategic decisions about resources and funding
• Provide an evidence base to draw upon when negotiating resources and funding
• Create a benchmark from which we can see changes to the sector over time, helping us to accurately measure performance and guide future strategies
• To more accurately and economically target Volunteering WA's marketing and communications efforts, and measure the results.

You can contribute to this vital piece of research by completing the survey or asking the responsible person in your organisation to complete it, or sharing the survey amongst your networks and encourage participation.

Please contact Gilda on 9482.4304 or gilda@volunteeringwa.org.au if you have any queries.

RECOGNISING the normal eight week format of its popular  Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction program doesn't always suit everyone's schedules, Mind and Movement is offering a shorter program over four weekends in January on Saturdays 10, 17, 24 and 31 January and Sunday 25 January.

The program will assist you to integrate mindfulness into your everyday life and provide tools and training to enhance your health and wellbeing through a deep understanding of the mind-body connection.

Reduce your reactivity to stressful situations and respond to circumstances with greater awareness and presence.

On 2 March 2015, the full eight-week program will begin again.

Find out more.

HEALTHY tips to help you in the lead up the festive season have been sourced from Assure Programs Psychologists.

1.  Positive People Management (family, friends, customers)
• Have realistic expectations - stress can lead people to act more insensitively, rush or to be on edge
• Anticipate misunderstandings – aim to be tolerant and patient - you can’t make everyone happy
• Take a positive focus - tune out bad or inappropriate behaviour and tune in good behaviour.
• Forget any family problems that have arisen during the year. Play the peacemaker for just one day.
• Saying ‘No’ - Be direct and concise, considerate not overly apologetic, remember you’re saying ‘No’ to the request not the person.
• In case of conflict:
• Manage your feelings - Relax & talk sense to yourself – “I’m cool & calm, I can manage this ok”
• Deal with the emotion first – Slow down the conversation, listen to clarify what is being said/heard
• If still unresolved - agree to differ and try to change topic.

2.  Budgeting
• Budget early in collaboration with family stakeholders
• Include extras - presents, food, fuel, alcohol, taxis, decorations, postage, pet boarding etc
• Set limits on what you can afford. Do not feel pressure to overspend - It’s the thought that counts.
• Make a gift list and decide a $ limit for each person before hitting shops
• Be open - others may be relieved to hear you can’t afford elaborate gifts and feel less pressured.
• Purchase gifts throughout the year or during sales.  January is a time to stock up on cards, gift wrapping and stocking fillers for the next Christmas.

3.  Time Management
Before Christmas day:
• Make lists (presents, cards to write, food to purchase, what to cook and when to start cooking)
• Wrap presents as soon as you buy them or get them wrapped at department stores
• If affordable, hire home help to clean the house and tidy the garden the week before Christmas (that could be your present!)
• If you plan to bake, start earlier in the month and freeze what you can or purchase prepared food, sauces, puddings - you don’t need to be a hero.
• Set the table the night before and plan how you would like Christmas day to unfold - but stay flexible.
On Christmas day:
• Expect things to take longer than you plan, allow extra time and don’t over load your day
• Assign tasks to each family member - half the fun of Christmas is having everyone involved.

4.  Self Preservation
• Try to get some time out for you - even if it’s just 10 minutes
• Relaxation - deep breathing, body scanning, tension release, gentle stretching
• Try to remember your health – sleep and rest, drive safely, eat and drink sensibly
• At the Christmas Party - brush up on your conversation skills - practice starters/endings, avoid topics too provocative or over-familiar, eat & drink well - set limits, slow your pace and keep hydrated
• If work pressures seem to be unmanageable, talk to your Human Resources advisor or Manager regarding options for additional workload or relief support
• Personal strategies and support – See your EAP counsellor – 1800 808 374

These tips were prepared by Molly Robbins and Murray Davis from Assure Programs Psychologists.

NOBEL Peace Laureate and the world’s most revered spiritual leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has had his humour, wisdom and compassion captured in Happiness and It's Causes' free eBook.

This eBook packages some of Dalai Lama's thoughts leading up to his keynote appearance at the next Happiness & Its Causes conference in 2015 at Luna Park in June.

Download your free digital copy here.