I ATTENDED Mental Health Australia’s Policy Forum in Canberra this month, to consult with other members on the National Mental Health Review (NMHR).
This Expert Reference Group, established by the Federal government, will advise how the recommendations of the NMHR should be taken forward.
Major themes included:
Deep engagement with consumers, carers and service providers is needed in the development of the 5th National Mental Health Plan.
Appropriate governance and planning arrangements are critical to ensure the enhanced commissioning roles envisaged for Primary Health Networks address the broad range of psychosocial supports.
Transition plans are urgently needed to ensure we do not see gaps open up in already fragmented services and programs in the full roll-out of the NDIS.
A National Press Club address by the National Mental Health Commission chair Alan Fels can be viewed on ABC iView - it's an excellent explanation of the thinking that guided the review and the direction the Commission is seeking the government take on mental health.
Rod Astbury
CEO
WA Association for Mental Health
Support Coordination in the NDIA - register today!
THE NDIS Perth Hills Trial site is running a workshop for Mental Health Providers about support coordination in the NDIA.
When: Thursday 13th August 2015 Time: 1:00pm – 4:00pm Where: National Disability Insurance Agency
78 - 80 Railway Parade, (corner Marion St) Midland. RSVP: Wednesday 12th August 2015 on 9278 9043 or at engagementwa@ndis.gov.au
Light refreshments provided.
The WA Mental Health Conference 2016
WAAMH is delighted to have secured foundation sponsorship from the Mental Health Commission for the WA Mental Health Conference.
This conference, which will be held in March 2016, will provide a forum for learning, development and networking with a holistic, person-centred perspective, based on recovery principles and engaging the full spectrum of the WA mental health sector and the community.
The objectives of the conference are:
To develop, strengthen and support WA’s mental health sector.
To provide development and collaboration opportunities for mental health sector workers and people with lived experience.
To provide information, resources and opportunities to organisational and lived experience leaders and human services professionals and peer workers.
To provide a forum for resource sharing, ideas exchange and collaboration.
To raise the profile of mental health issues and promote positive attitudes to mental health in the wider community.
The planning process is already well underway, with the support of our Conference Reference Group who are an extremely diverse group of advisors drawn from across WA including people with lived experience, community, public, primary health and private sector services, funders and policy makers and mental health educators.
TICKETS are on sale now for the Stand Up! for Comedy Opening Ceremony to launch Mental Health Week 2015.
This year WAAMH has partnered with Perth Theatre Trust to bring you a night of laughs and fun at His Majesty's Theatre in Perth CBD, starring Perth-born comedian Joel Creasey.
Free tickets are available for unwaged consumers and carers. Please email communications@waamh.org.au if this option applies to you.
Affordable advertising opportunities for our member organisations in the comedy program are available here.
Mental Health Week 2-10 October 2015
MENTAL Health Week is on between 2 - 10 October, and this year we have chosen Mentally Healthy WA's Act-Belong-Commit message as the official theme for 2015.
WAAMH members are invited to submit resources and material to be distributed in the Murray Street Mall on 8 October during Mental Health Week to the general public. This material could highlight your services, programs or organisation in some way. Please deliver your material to the WAAMH office by 18 September 2015 or contact communications@waamh.org.au for more details.
Details coming soon about accessing discounted advertising in The West Australian's Mental Health Week lift out, published by Health + Medicine.
How will you Act-Belong-Commit this year?
AS the official theme for Mental Heath Week 2015, there are a number of ways you can adopt the Act-Belong-Commit message in your events and activities.
Being active, having a sense of belonging and purpose in life all contribute to to happiness and good mental health.
There is also a logo you can download to help your promotion.
ADVOCACY
CLMIA Advocacy Brief and Media Release
THE Criminal Law (Mentally Impaired Accused) Act 1996 (the CLMIA Act) is Western Australian legislation that enables the legal administration, care and disposition of people with a mental impairment who have been found either mentally unfit to stand trial or not guilty due to unsound mind.
Under the Act, people with disability or mental illness can be detained indefinitely without ever being convicted of a crime. They may not have had the evidence against them tested in court, and have no right to appeal this decision.
People with disability, mental health consumers, lawyers, judges, advocates and organisations have been calling for reform to the CLMIA Act for more than a decade.
Following extensive consultation and practice experience, the community-managed mental health, disability and community sectors stand united to call for reform to the CLMIA Act. In doing so, we have released an Advocacy Brief and Media Release relating to the most critical reforms needed urgently.
WAAMH recently submitted a paper which focuses on the extent to which the National Disability Framework requires change to enable it to better meet the advocacy needs of people with psychosocial disability.
In particular, the paper examines these needs against the fast-changing context of the disability and mental health sectors, including the roll-out of the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
Community of Practice – NDIS My Way Lower South West
WITH the WA NDIS My Way reaching the half-way point of its two-year trial in the Lower South West region, WAAMH facilitated an inaugural learning network meeting in June with key stakeholders to identify any additional strategies needed for My Way.
Release of the Information, Linkages and Capacity Building Policy
THE Information, Linkages and Capacity Policy has been provided to the NDIA to inform the implementation of this part of the NDIS; formerly known as Tier 2.
Governments are working on the transition arrangements for the NDIS. When transition arrangements are agreed, the NDIA will work with each jurisdiction on the transition of supports that are within the scope of the ILC Policy. More information will be provided on these transition arrangements before the end of 2015. Read the policy.
NDIA Pricing and Catalogue Changes - WA Support Clusters
THE NDIA Price Guide is significantly different from the Catalogue of Supports (Support Clusters and Pricing document) that preceded it. The range of services that can be delivered to participants, as a minimum, remains the same, provided they are related to the participant’s disability, achievement of outcomes and ultimately their goals. The new Price Guide reinforces the concept that these services are not constrained by rigid definitions of a support item as listed in a “catalogue”.
A simpler, easier to use catalogue for funded NDIS supports and services, changes for the 2015-16 indexation for services and the introduction of an establishment fee to be applicable for personal support and community participation services was introduced by the NDIA at the start of August.
With the application of indexation, the NDIA is providing more time for service providers in personal support and community participation to make the transition to the full scheme pricing arrangements. Read Pricing and Catalogue Changes.
NDIS New Support Items
NOT every support available is defined in the NDIA Price Guide. However the following new support items have been introduced for inclusion in the Price Guide where it's considered they will increase options and flexibility in service provision.
Multidisciplinary team intervention
Establishment fee for personal care/community access
NDIS Mental Health Sector Reference Group Communique
THE NDIA Mental Health Sector Reference Group (NMHSRG) provides expert advice from a cross section of the mental health sector to the NDIA about the progressive integration of psychosocial disability into the Scheme. The NMHSRG is also an important mechanism for information sharing across the mental health sector, NDIA and the broader community. As such, the group's latest communiqué provides the key outcomes of their third meeting in June.
TRAINING
Semester Two Courses - WAAMH Training
13, 20 & 27 August - Care Coordination
21 August - Implementing a Peer Program in your Organisation: Workshop 5
26 August - Co-existing Disorders
2 September – Community Mental Health Recovery
3 September - De-escalation Techniques
15 & 16 September - Mental Health First Aid
23 September – Creating Recovery Plans
6 October – Suicide Prevention
7 October – Mindfulness Techniques
8 October – Preventing Psychological Injury at work
Regional Education, Access and Learning for Mental Health
DEVELOPED with funding from the WA Mental Health Commission, Regional Education, Access and Learning for Mental Health (REALM) is designed to make WAAMH’s suite of training services accessible to regional mental health workers and wider regional communities.
In acknowledgment of the financial and other challenges faced by regional organisations and individuals in accessing mental health professional development and training, the REALM program provides a range of targeted funding options.
REALM is available in all areas of Western Australia, outside of greater Perth, within the funding period of the 2015-2016 financial year.
KEEPING active and being part of the community are great ways to boost your mental health and wellbeing.
WAAMH's community partner, Volleyball WA is holding Drop In Volleyball games every Friday.
With no joining fees, uniform, equipment, or commitment required, Drop in Volleyball from Volleyball WA is the perfect way to play sport in a relaxed environment.
Have fun and be part of a team on a casual basis. There is now no need to feel guilty when you can't make 'the team' one week - just drop in!
Play out of the wind, sun, and rain with this low impact activity suitable for all fitness levels.
There is also a Corporate Volleyball Challenge in November - consider enrolling your workplace as part of a team building activity or group fitness goal.
Framework for Mental Health in Multicultural Australia
THE National Mental Health Commission has expressed its support for the Framework for Mental Health in Multicultural Australia - Towards culturally inclusive service delivery, developed by Mental Health in Multicultural Australia (MHiMA).
The work undertaken in developing the MHiMA Framework and the opportunities it presents in improving front line care to people of multicultural backgrounds is in keeping with the National Mental Health Commission's Review; and is a stated performance measure focused on improving cultural responsiveness in mental health services.
A video update, presented at the Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) Congress earlier this year, provides updates on the implementation of the Framework for Mental Health in Multicultural Australia from a number of the sites around Australia and includes presentations from mental health workers in Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales.
HOMELESS Prevention Week occurs in the first full week of August every year.
To see a recap of the week and its awareness raising activities, click here.
Mental health and housing
A recent study from theJournal of Mental Health shows people with mental health and substance use problems face particular issues among the homeless population when trying to obtain stable housing.
Research suggests mental illness and housing issues each contribute to the other – homelessness both exacerbates and is exacerbated by mental health problems.
Current housing problems reported by participants involved in the study included:
Unavailability of affordable accommodation
Lack of permanent accommodation
Poorly maintained accommodation
Poor access to services and transport
Isolation from social and support networks.
Factors that contributed to participants entering unsuitable/unstable housing included:
Cyclical nature of mental health, substance abuse and housing issues
Relationship and family breakdown
Poor history with housing services or real estate agencies
Lack of knowledge of services and agency supports.
Factors that contributed to participants moving out of unsuitable/unstable housing included:
Obtaining a stable income and ongoing employment
Solid social network, particularly family networks
Agency support providing information, education and practical support.
