THIS month we publicise the exciting opportunity to co-lead the soon to be established WA Mental Health Network, an initiative of the Department of Health and the Mental Health Commission, to support the process of change in the strategic management of mental health.

The Mental Health Services (TheMHS) Conference is finally here! Between August 27-29, we encourage everyone in the sector to head along to the Perth Convention Centre and experience all that the conference has to offer.

WAAMH will be presenting alongside Nyoongar elders as part of the Looking Forward Project, our sector development team will host sessions on Outcomes Measurement and Peer Work, and we will officially unveil our Mental Health eLearning package, Shine at TheMHS.

Also this month, we can announce that WAAMH is partnering with The West Australian again during Mental Health Week - only this time the award winning health journalists from its Health + Medicine team will be researching and writing the articles.

See below for your opportunity to be involved.

Enjoy the August edition of eNews.

Rod Astbury
Executive Director
WA Association for Mental Health

THE WA Department of Health and the Mental Health Commission are seeking two co-leads to lead and champion the WA Mental Health Network.

This network is being established to support the process of change in the strategic management of mental health and alcohol and other drugs.

Under the responsibility of the Chief Medical Officer in the Department of Health, the network aims to engage with consumers, carers, non-government organisations and the community to identify mental health priorities and support the improvement of mental health outcomes.

The two co-leads of the network will be engaged for a period of two years in paid roles for one day per week. One position will be open to a person from outside of health.

To apply and for more details, click here.

WE invite you to feature your organisation and its services in a special magazine format edition of Health + Medicine produced by The West Australian for Mental Health Week.

This informative magazine, written by award-winning health journalists, offers you the chance to reach an audience of 651,000 Wednesday readers statewide. The West Australian newspaper connects with nearly 2.5 million people across the State every day.

Health + Medicine will highlight outstanding mental health initiatives in the state, raise public awareness and understanding of matters relating to the wellbeing of people with mental illness and address stigma and discrimination.

The hard copy magazines will be distributed to the WA population with The West Australian newspaper on Wednesday, 1 October 2014.

Download the flyer with advertising opportunities.

LOTTERWEST has kindly provided funding to the State's peak body for mental health, WAAMH to ensure consumers, carers and staff from small, non-profits organisations can attend The Mental Health Service Conference.

This opportunity also enables more people from rural and remote areas to travel to Perth to share the experience and gather knowledge at this momentous three day event.

To apply for financial assistance to attend TheMHS, download the Application Form and return it ASAP.

AS part of the Opening Ceremony Beach Concert on Sunday October 5 to officially open Mental Health Week in WA, we are offering current WAAMH members the opportunity to display their promotional and informative resources at the main marquee situated at the event.

We are anticipating around 1500 people to attend and pass through this event, and we want to offer them a range of mental health services and information.

Please contact Brooke Johns on 9420 7277 or BJohns@waamh.org.au for more information.

Send your brochures and materials to the WAAMH Office – City West Lotteries House, 2 Delhi Street, West Perth WA 6005 – by 19th September 2014, to be included.

Members are also invited to display their banners at the marquee. Not a member? Renew or sign up now!

A FORMER former Mental Health Commissioner for New Zealand, Mary O’Hagan is an international mental health leader with lived experience.

WAAMH is hosting an event where Mary O’Hagan will launch her memoir, Madness Made Me, which charts her journey through madness as she realised the mental health system and society did more harm than good. It is a myth busting account of madness and our customary responses to it through the lens of lived experience.

Please join us after the launch for networking and a book signing where wine and canapés will be served.

For carers and consumers wishing to attend, we have proposed a "Pay What It's Worth" Strategy. For more details, see the events details online.

Download flyer.

Details:
Date: Monday 18th August
Time: 5:30pm - 7:30pm
Venue: Association for the Blind of WA, Wesfarmers Theatrette, 61 Kitchener Avenue, Victoria Park
Cost: $65

Register to attend now.

AUGUST 8 - Grant applications to assist you host your own local community event during Mental Health Week, please submit all applications by COB Friday, August August 8. Download an application form here.

August 15 - Entries for the School Poster Competition close next Friday. Download an entry form and competition details here.

19 September - To display your brochures or any other resources at Mental Health Week's official Opening Ceremony, please deliver them to the WAAMH office by this deadline. We anticiapte more than 1500 people to attend and pass through this event and would love to highlight your mental health programs and services.

Contact Brooke Johns on 9420 7277 for more details.

WAAMH courses:

4 September: Mental Health Responses
12 September: Mental Health Diagnosis and Classifications
16 September: Behavioural Interventions
17 Sept: Developing Resilience in others
18 Sept: Suicide Prevention
Sept 22 and 26: Mental Health First Aid

To register or learn more, go to: http://waamh.org.au/development-and-training/training/courses-available.aspx

RICHMOND Fellowship WA courses:

13 August: Making Real Connection and Who Am I To Help You?
14 August: Trauma Informed Care and Person Centred Risk and Safety
20 August: Conflict Management Training
20 August: Professional Street - For Workers Mental Wellbeing
26 August: Mindfulness for Wellbeing
27 August: The Hearing Voices Approach and Helping People Who Hear Voices.

For further information and other training sessions, please visit www.rfwa.org.au,  email: training@rfwa.org.au or phone RFWA on 9350 8800.

CHILDREN and Adolescent Mental Health Services’ Bentley Family Clinic is moving to a new building on the Bentley Health Service site and wants to hear from you as to what changes should be made during this process.

A focus group will be held on Tuesday, 19th August in the evening.
Children, young people, parents and carers and other family members are welcome to attend.

For more information on attending visit: http://waamh.org.au/events/event-details.aspx?id=159 

MENTAL health promotion group, Act-Belong-Commit is calling on nominations for its annual, national awards.

Categories include:
• Adult
• Youth
• Community site
• School
• Senior
• Partner

Nominations close August 22. Winners will be announced at the ABC Sundowner on Wednesday, October 8 during Mental Health Week.

More details and download flyer.

LOCAL Matters is the Grill’d community donation program that aims to give back to the community.

Every month each restaurant supports three local community groups, by setting up a jar for each and encouraging customers to vote with a token towards the one they'd like to support for the month.

At the end of the month, tokens are counted and the proceeds split and distributed.

WAAMH is honoured to announce we received the most votes in June and awarded a certificate and a donation towards our work.

A big thanks to Grill'd in Brookfield Place, Perth CBD for the opportunity to be involved.

WAAMH will use the donation to support regional community events during Mental Health Week, October 4 - 10.

HAVE you or someone close to you experienced Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?

Partners of Veterans Association Western Australia is holding a free seminar for veterans, military, ex-military police, ambulance, fire and emergency, corrective services, as well as partners, families, friends, work colleagues and service providers to attend.

Details:
Date: Thursday 14th August 2014
Time: 10am - 2pm
Venue: State Library of WA, 25 Francis Street, Perth, Theatre Room Ground Floor.

Download flyer.