AS we enter the new financial year...

We have news on two key processes affecting the future of mental health services; our second submission to the National Mental Health Review and an update on progress of the Western Australian Ten Year Mental Health Services plan.

The Mental Health Services (TheMHS) Conference still has space for exhibitors and registrations are open, so please encourage your staff to attend this valuable event.

We are pleased to announce our official Ambassador for Mental Health Week is Australian Education and Leadership's 'Most Positive Role Model of the Year' nominee Amy Coombe. Amy is an established and engaging youth mentor, MC, keynote speaker, and mental health advocate who has appeared in the mainstream media many times.

Good Outcome Award nominations, as part of Mental Health Week, close July 17 so you have one week to get any entries into the Mental Health Commission. 

It's that time of year again for your WAAMH  annual membership renewal. If you have forgotten to renew your membership for FY 2014/15, please renew online now.

Thinking of becoming a member? Join Now.

Enjoy the July edition of eNews.

Rod Astbury
Executive Director
WA Association for Mental Health

BUBBLY and bright professional speaker, Amy Coombe has agreed to become the Ambassador for Mental Health Week in WA.

Amy first begun speaking at our Mental Health Week events last year and this year will be the face of Mental Health Week 2014.

Amy's a confident, genuine and energetic young lady, now in high demand in a professional capacity to speak at community events, schools and in corporate settings.

We are thrilled to have her support for Mental Health Week and know she'll do an amazing job increasing community awareness.

THIS is an update for our members and stakeholders who participated as consumer, family or service representatives in the consultation groups, reference groups, briefings and targeted consultations, for the WA Ten Year Mental Health Services Plan.

WAAMH has prepared this update with cooperation and input from the Mental Health Commission with the aim of informing participants about progress of the Plan since the consultation groups completed their work in December 2013.

The consultation process resulted in the development of models of service for promotion and prevention, alcohol and other drugs, bed-based, community clinical and community support services and provided advice on the service targets developed by the National Mental Health Service Planning Framework.

The Mental Health Commission has since undertaken the next step in the process by developing a detailed financial plan to inform how the services plan can be sustainably funded.

It is expected that this will be presented to government in the next month after which it will be available for public comment. 

We look forward to bringing you more information about the progress of the Ten Year Plan as soon as it is available.

WAAMH has completed its second submission to the National Mental Health Services Review.

Our submission can be viewed online here.

After initial consultation, the National Mental Health Service Review identified the need for additional information from the community-managed mental health sector, particularly regarding its experience as mental health providers.

The priority issue for reform identified by respondents to WAAMH’s research was service gaps. The submission also highlighted effective approaches, supports for people with specific conditions, preventative and early intervention supports, and the need for trauma and gender informed approaches.

The review will release an interim report soon, and following this WAAMH is planning a final round of consultation with the sector.

Contact systemic advocacy consultant Chelsea McKinney or read eNews for updates on your next chance to contribute once the interim report has been released.

WAAMH is hosting a workshop this month to encourage informed dialogue within the alcohol and drug sector and mental health sector about key ideas, opportunities and challenges involved in expanding peer work and employing more peer workers in each sector.

Details
Date: Thursday, 17 July
Time: 9am - 1pm
Venue: Telethon Speech and Hearing, Tomasi Room, 36 Dodd Street, Wembley
Cost: Free

The workshop will bring together a select group of stakeholders from across the mental health and drug and alcohol sectors to:

• Encourage dialogue between sectors about peer work
• Increase knowledge about the diversity of peer work currently occurring across the drug and alcohol and mental health sectors in WA
• Build connections and networks between people interested and involved in peer work in the drug and alcohol sectors in WA
• Discuss the proposed Peer Work Framework and its potential use by agencies
• Field test ideas and elements from the proposed Peer Framework
• Gather feedback to inform the development of the proposed Peer Framework

Register now.

RESOURCES for Mental Health Week, including our official poster are available now at: http://mhw.waamh.org.au/order-resources/
Order your FREE sample pack!

Key events during Mental Health Week include:
4th October - Join us for fun in the sun at our free beach concert to officially launch Mental Health Week, featuring some of Perth's hottest live acts to be announced soon.

10th October - Tickets on sale now for the Merry Go Round play on World Mental Health Day, and a sundowner beforehand will formally close the week.  Head to trybooking.com to secure your seat.

Mental Health Week Arts Exhibition opens Friday 3rd October and will display local paintings all week. Visit us in Murray Street Mall on 10/10 and pick up some resources or chat to staff from headsdpace and Arafmi.

More details about the events can be found here.

CO-PRODUCTION resources sourced from internationally renowned mental health advocate Dr Rachel Perkins are now available online.

Co-production transforms people who use services from passive recipients of services and burdens on the system into one where they are equal partners in designing and delivering services.

Access our resources here.

KB McManus Memorial Fund

Funding for individuals or organisations to apply towards an arts-related or creative activity. Successful activities included:

- Scrapbooking
- Art classes
- Didgeridoo lessons
- Dance performance
- Jewellery making
- Zumba lessons
- Creative writing course
- Cake decorating course
- Art materials
- Singing lessons
- Ballroom dancing
- Film outing

Friends of Heathcote Fund

Grants for individuals or organisations to fund a social outing or activity which improves quality of life. Successful events included:

- Cover-up tattoo
- Cyclone Tracy reunion
- Opera subscription
- Wildlife carers course
- Zoo and lunch with mum
- Raised garden bed
- Monthly craft
- Farm Stay
- Lancelin with children
- Pampering and relaxation
- Holiday in Leeman
- Lunch and care packs for Aboriginal women

Capacity Building Grants

Grants to assist community-managed mental health organisations to build their capacity to deliver person-centred, outcome-focused services and supports. Successful organisations and their projects included:

- Aftercare, Mental Illness Fellowship of WA for Goals and Recovery - people setting their own agenda.
- Ruah for the Ruah Inclusion WA Strategy.
- St Patrick's Community Support Central / 55 Central for Outcomes Measurement and Professional Development in Partnership.
- Mental Illness Fellowship of WA for Understanding, Building, and Measuring the Efficiency and Effectiveness of our Service Approaches.

THE preliminary program for TheMHS Conference 2014 is now online and features a wide range of presentations across the mental health field.

There are inspiring stories, research reports, innovative programs and services, updates on treatment, psychosocial interventions, evidence-based services, recovery and personal stories, and presentations about peer workers and the wider workforce.

• View the program.
• Check out the pre-conference forums and workshops here.
• Registrations are open, so plan your day at TheMHS Conference and register now.
• There are also spots still remaining for exhibitors, so go to TheMHS website for details at www.themhs.org

MENTAL Health Carers Arafmi Australia has launched a website devoted to telling the personal stories of mental health carers, called ‘Our National Voice’.

Our National Voice raises awareness of the experience of caring for a loved one with a mental illness.

Arafmi president Warren Jenkins said hearing other carers’ stories can help families better care and support their loved ones.

“Story-telling can also alert doctors to the psychological support needed by carers themselves to keep them strong and able to continue in their vital support roles," Jenkins said. “Otherwise carers can become depressed and anxious."

“Carers reportedly live with high levels of such reactive psychological conditions bought on by their social isolation and lack of hope.

“This website will collate the many stories about the lived experience of carers, who will now be able to express their points of view nationally and not feel isolated, unheard or misunderstood.”

To visit the website, go to www.ournationalvoice.com

UPCOMING courses with Richmond Fellowship of WA next month:

7 August: Conflict Management Training

12 August: An Introduction to the recovery Approach and Recovery in a World Context

13 August: Making Real Connection and Who Am I To Help You?

14 August: Trauma Informed Care and Person-Centred Risk and Safety

Register at www.rfwa.org.au

Find out about these and other mental health courses in WA at http://waamh.org.au/events/all-training-courses.aspx

RESEARCH shows mental health is the number one concern amongst Australia's children and young people.

A report by Kids Helpline found more than 700,000 direct contacts and self-directed help seeking website enquiries from people aged between 5 and 25 years old were received by the national counselling and support service in 2013.

This marked a 9% increase compared to 2012.

The top five issues amongst children and young people last year were mental health concerns, family relationships, emotional wellbeing, suicide-related concerns and dating and partner relationships.

Kids Helpline CEO Tracy Adams said the demand for ongoing counselling support for children and young people continued to increase, as counsellors helped them deal with severe, complex and often long-standing issues.

“Forty three per cent of children and young people who received counselling from the service last year were experiencing suicidality, deliberate self-injury and mental health concerns,” Adams said.

“We encourage children and young people to keep trying to contact us if they can’t get through, it is vitally important that they do, counsellors are available every hour of the day.

"We are providing an increasing number of counselling sessions to children and young people reaching out to the service seeking to deal with very significant issues and we do worry about that."

To contact or support Kids Helpline, go to: http://www.kidshelp.com.au/