In the wake of so much media coverage of celebrity suicides and the violent death of a family in Margaret River recently, it is timely to reflect on the significance of language used around mental health and everyone’s role in framing our society’s response in a constructive, responsible and compassionate way.

The way we talk about things influences how we see ourselves and has a direct impact on people's mental health. Language has the power to be supportive, hopeful and to encourage people to seek help for mental health challenges or, conversely, convey pessimism, low expectations and reinforce the stigma of yesteryear, causing further harm.

With the recent release of the second edition of the ‘Recovery-Oriented Language Guide’, I hope you will take a moment to read through it and reflect on how you talk about and to people with a lived experience of mental health issues, and show stewardship in the places you visit every day by role modelling recovery-oriented language that helps not harms.

Taryn Harvey
Chief Executive Officer
Western Australian Association for Mental Health

WA’s peak bodies representing mental health and consumers invite you to participate in a community conversation about the future of the mental health system. These events will help you understand the WA Government’s ‘Sustainable Health Review’, why it is so important and how you can influence it, and will include a small group workshop so everyone's voice can be heard.

For your convenience, there is a choice of two times - daytime or evening.

When: Tuesday, 26 June, 2018
Where: The Rise, 28 Eighth Avenue, Maylands
Time: 10.30am-1.30pm (morning tea from 10am)
More information & registration.

When: Thursday, 28 June, 2018
Where: Citiplace Community Centre, at the City Railway Station
Time: 5:30pm - 8pm (registrations open from 5pm)
More information & registration.

VIEW EVENT FLYER. Many thanks to event co-hosts CoMHWA, Carers Australia WA, Helping Minds, Health Consumers’ Council and Mental Health Matter 2.

In May WAAMH made a submission to the Government’s review of its not for profit partnership and funding policy – Delivering Community Services in Partnership. This policy is fundamental to further community services' sustainability, but it needs a significant refresh to deliver better outcomes. It is particularly weak on co-design and integrated services, which need a stronger and genuine focus, as well as practical guidance for government agencies. 
VIEW THE WAAMH SUBMISSION.

WAAMH recently made a submission to the federal Senate Inquiry into the Accessibility and Quality of Mental Health Services in Rural and Remote Australia’, and were invited to travel to Albany last week to appear at the Senate Inquiry hearing to provide first-hand information to four senators.

Our submission was based on formal and informal consultation with WAAMH members and the wider community information and emphasised the views of survey respondents to present a genuine and focused regional perspective on the Inquiry Terms of Reference. 

Respondents highlighted the urgent need for more prevention, community support and emergency services across WA, and the major impact of factors including unemployment, stress and housing on people’s mental health in country areas.

The response to the consultation was significant, with 195 submissions to an online survey, approximately 20 face-to-face and telephone consultations, and two written submissions. WAAMH would like to thank all participants in the consultation process and other projects who contributed to this submission.
VIEW THE WAAMH INQUIRY SUBMISSION.

Following the Budget Estimates hearing in the Legislative Assembly on 23rd May, WAAMH has updated our 2018-19 State Budget analysis. There remains strong enthusiasm by government officials and the Minister for the Step Up, Step Down services which are the key feature of Labor’s mental health election commitments.

A close look at the estimates hearing reveals that the prevention cuts are likely to be rectified in the next 6-12 months, and that the forthcoming Prevention Plan could pave the way for government to move towards reaching the two and five per cent prevention spending targets set out in the plan, but with the first target missed and no specifics, we remain concerned. However, there appears to be no specific plans to increase community support – which has the highest rate of unmet demand, with only one in five WA people able to access the community support they need. WAAMH will be stepping up our advocacy for prevention and community support in the next 12 months.

A review of the Carers Recognition Act was recently announced by the State Government, to ensure carers are "properly recognised" and "have a meaningful role in contributing to decisions that directly affect them". They are inviting carers, community members and other stakeholders to have their say using the online form. The survey closes on 1 August.

The Department of Communities will also be hosting community consultation sessions. Keep an eye out for further information about these sessions, which will be provided on the Department’s website and Facebook page. 
MORE INFORMATION.

Passionate Lives has announced it is spearheading the Kwinana Alliance Against Depression, which brings together a collaboration of community members, health practitioners and service providers to support the community. The alliance is based on the European Alliance Against Depression model, which reduced suicide rates by 24 per cent and is fully supported by the WA Primary Health Alliance. For more information see the alliance's facebook page.

WAAMH’s Youth Services Integration Project is currently working with young people who have used mental health and related services, with the goal of capturing their journeys, experiences and pathways. Their experiences will be used to illustrate how and where services are integrated, or not, and what effect that has had on their recovery journey.

We are currently seeking people from the following two groups to participate in the project:
• Males aged 12-25 years who are comfortable talking about their journey through the mental health system
• Indigenous people of any gender aged 12-25 years who are comfortable talking about their journey through the mental health system

It takes just a few hours of your time. If you would like to help us out, or know someone who might, please contact Rikki Battersby, Youth Services Integration Project Officer on RBattersby@waamh.org.au.
MORE ABOUT THE WAAMH YOUTH SERVICES INTEGRATION PROJECT.

Start Court is a solution-focused court, adopting principles of therapeutic jurisprudence, for people living with a mental health issue.The Start Court Guidelines were published earlier this year and provide an easy-to-read overview of the purpose of the court, eligibility to use it and how the program works.
VIEW THE START COURT GUIDELINES.

Investigation of adverse event (side effect) reports is an important way that the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) monitors the safety of medicines used in Australia. The TGA is calling for members of the public and health professionals to complete an online survey about theirr experiences and attitudes with medications. All responses are anonymous and will help the TGA improve the way they collect and use adverse event reports. Both health professionals and consumers can provide vital first-hand information about experiences with medicines and how these have affected them or their clients. 
GO TO TGA MEDICATION SIDE EFFECTS SURVEY.

The Mental Health Coordinating Council (MHCC) developed the Recovery Oriented Language Guide in 2013 - and the newly-released second edition - because language matters in all aspects of life and continues to be particularly important in the context of mental health and recovery. It is vital that words are used that convey hope and optimism, and support and promote a culture that fosters recovery. Development of the guide has been informed by a number of sources including: International and Australian literature on trauma-informed and recovery oriented practice; conversations with the mental health practitioners across service sectors; and, most importantly, through listening to the voices of people with lived experience of mental health conditions concerning their recovery journeys. 
GO TO 'RECOVERY ORIENTED LANGUAGE GUIDE: SECOND EDITION'

The National Mental Health Commission has released the outcomes from their national consultation on housing, homelessness and mental health. The consultation gathered feedback on key issues and gaps for people with lived experience of mental illness in relation to housing. Approximately 400 people from across health and community sectors, peak bodies, government departments, state mental health commissions and consumers, carers, families and support people generously participated through state and territory workshops or an online survey. VIEW THE REPORT.

Below is just a taste of our full training offering this semester. Go to the WAAMH website to see the entire semester one offering and to book your place now.

SEMESTER TWO TRAINING COURSES TO BE RELEASED LATER THIS MONTH.

19 Jun 2018   Trauma Informed Care
21 Jun 2018   Understanding Personality Disorders
26 Jun 2018   Many Voices, Big Impact: The Mental Health Review & Making Your Voice Heard
28 Jun 2018  Many Voices, Big Impact - evening session
1 Aug 2018    Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) Tools
16 Aug 2018  Drugs, Alcohol & Mental Health
29 Aug 2018  De-escalation Techniques

The Aboriginal Health Council of Western Australia invites Perth health professionals and community-controlled organisations to take part in a FREE training session, “Engaging with Aboriginal Communities”. Being held in partnership with WAPHA, the training will also be available in the WA regions, and is aimed at breaking down barriers between service providers and Aboriginal communities.
What: Engaging with Aboriginal Communities
When: Monday 25 June, Tuesday 26 June or Friday 29 June
Time: 8.30am – 12.30pm
Where: 450 Beaufort Street, Highgate
Cost: Free
More information: Deborah Cain, Cultural Safety Officer on Deborah.Cain@ahcwa.org. Morning tea and light lunch provided.

The Australian Psychosis Conference is being held in Sydney from 14-16 September and the closing date for abstract submissions has just been extended to 18 June. Early bird registration is also open.
VIEW CONFERENCE WEBSITE & ABSTRACT SUBMISSION INFORMATION.