TheMHS - it's a wrap!

WAAMH was proud to co-convene the momentous week-long event, The Mental Health Services Conference which came to life in Perth last month.

Everyone who attended took away positive experiences and a wealth of new knowledge. If you missed a session, see if one of the bloggers covered it on the TheMHS website. Next year, TheMHS will be in Canberra and we look forward to seeing you all there again.

The WA Department of Health, in partnership with the Mental Health Commission, will launch the Mental Health Network on Monday 6 October 2014 at the Pan Pacific Hotel, Perth.

The Mental Health Network will provide the structure for people to come together to help connect, share and improve on the mental health outcomes for Western Australians.

The official Opening Ceremony for Mental Health Week is also drawing near with more details in this month's eNews. We hope to see you there.

Rod Astbury
Executive Director
Western Australian Association for Mental Health

Register now for the launch of the WA Mental Health Network.

In addition to launching the Mental Health Network, the day will comprise of a series of workshops helping to determine the priorities for the Network.

Rural and remote participants will be able to view the morning’s event via web-streaming. A concurrent afternoon workshop specifically addressing rural and remote issues will be held at WA Health on 189 Royal Street, East Perth. Videoconferencing access is available.

The day will comprise presentations from dignitaries, including the Minister for Mental Health, Acting Director General for Health and the Mental Health Commissioner.

To register for the event and view the preliminary programs please visit the Mental Health Network event page.

Registrations close: Thursday 18 September 2014

For information about this event or how to get involved in the Network, please email Richard Clark or phone 9222 0200.

IF you haven't registered to attend the Mental Health Week Opening Ceremony yet, there is still time.

On Sunday, 5 October 2014, British India is hitting our west coast shores to play a rocking live set at the stunning venue, Scarborough Beach Amphitheatre.

There will also be inspiring guest speakers, stalls, mental health resources, beach sports and more!

Door prizes will be drawn on the day from the online registrations.

Thanks to support from the Mental Health Commission, City of Stirling, Lotterywest and WA Music.

Thanks to our awesome 2014 sponsors Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority, Lifeline WA, Uniting Care West, MercyCare, Perth Central and East Metro Medicare Local, Richmond Fellowship WA, Rise, Samaritans Crisis Line, and Fuel Your Future.

Register to attend now!

YOU may have seen the launch at The Mental Health Services Conference recently, but Shine Mental Health eLearning is finally here.

Commended by Minister for Mental Health Hon. Helen Morton, Shine will reinvent the way you induct new staff to the mental health sector.

Find out more here.

THE number of Mental Health Week community events around WA, from 4 - 10 October, is growing every day!

Highlights include:

 Movie Premiere

 Comedy Night

Art Exhibition Launch

Opening Ceremony Beach Concert

Good Outcome Awards

Workplace Wellbeing Wednesday

Act-Belong-Commit Awards Sundowner

Closing Ceremony Merry Go Round play 

See more on the Mental Health Week events page.

AS part of Workplace Wellbeing Wednesday for Mental Health Week, WAAMH is hosting a free seminar at Central Park Theatrette.

Speakers include: Mental Health Commissioner Tim Marney, Ambassador Amy Coombe, WorkSafe WA's Kathryn Jones and Diabetes WA on nutrition.

• Discover how to relax, unwind and find balance
• Prevent mental health issues developing at work
• Create a mentally friendly workplace
• Know your rights and responsibilities

Register to attend now.

Download flyer and spread the word.

Event details:
Wednesday 8 October 2014
12:30pm -1:30pm
Central Park Theatrette, St Georges Terrace, Perth CBD
RSVP: mhw.waamh.org.au/events

WAAMH selected the Mental Health Week grant recipients from an extensive list and range of competitive entries this year.

Our priority was to support community events based in regional and remote areas, events engaging school children and parents, and events aimed at disadvantaged communities.

Successful grant recipients in 2014 were:

• Arts and Mental Health Network
• Derby Aboriginal Mental Health Service
• Westonia Community Resource Centre
• Koorda Primary School
• Looking Forward Project - Telethon Kids Institute
• Woodvale Secondary College
• Baldivis Secondary College
• Pilbara Mental Health and Drug Service
• Inspire Foundation
• Beacon Primary School
• Shire of Narambeen

All of their events can be viewed on the Mental Health Week events website.

16 September: Behaviour Interventions: Protective strategies and de-escalation techniques.

18 September: Suicide Prevention: Prevention and intervention to save lives. 

22 September: Sharing your Story: Use your lived experience to support peers experiencing similar situations.

22 and 23 September: Mental Health First Aid: Internationally recognised two day crisis response course.

30 September: National Mental Health Standards: What service providers need to know about understanding and implementing them.

REGISTRATIONS close 26 September for a number of workshops on workplace health and safety during Safe Work October.

As this coincides with Mental Health Week, WAAMH and WorkSafe WA have teamed up to jointly host some of these presentations on the 2, 8 and 9 October.

View workshops here.

SPECIAL guest Mary O'Hagan took us through her recovery journey and provided insight to the mental health system at an intimate event last month.

Her book, Madness Made Me has received outstanding reviews and we were lucky to sit and listen to her read passages from the book as well as share her experience with writing it.

View filmed version of Mary O'Hagan's presentation here.

IF you are interested in receiving more information on the Recovery College, please email reception@waamh.org.au

YOU are invited to a workshop on co-production hosted by CommunityWest and Madeline Cooper-Ueki, from the National Development Team for Inclusion in the UK on September 22.

This workshop will outline an innovative approach to community services in the aged care, mental health and disability sectors.

More event details.

16 September: Making Real Connection and Who Am I to Help You?

17 September: Introduction to the Hearing Voices Approach & Helping People Who Hear Voices - Rockingham

22 September: Introduction to the Recovery Approach & Introduction to the Hearing Voices Approach, Cannington

23 - 24 September: Trauma and Recovery

25 September: Working With Emotions

26 September: Person Centred Risk and Safety & Who Am I To Help You?

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