IT'S that time of the year again where we remind our subscribers and stakeholders to renew their membership with the Western Australian Association for Mental Health. If you have thought about joining us, now is the best time to become a new member. You will join a strong and united group or organisations and people driven to influence and shape the mental health landscape in Western Australia.

There are many valuable membership benefits to explore.

We are also excited to announce the opportunities for your organisation to partner with us as we embark on Mental Health Week for another year.

This year we are promoting the theme, 'Mental health starts where we work, live, learn and play'.

Read all about what's lined up for Mental Health Week 2018 below.

Taryn Harvey
Chief Executive Officer
Western Australian Association for Mental Health
 

JOIN your mental health peak body and become part of a strong network of community mental health organisations and individuals that influence community attitudes, mental health priorities, policy and practice so Western Australians have the rights, resources and support needed for mental wellbeing, recovery and citizenship.

Renew / join / see member benefits here.

View the 2018/19 Membership brochure here.

THIS year's theme of Mental Health Week is 'Mental health starts where we live, learn, work and play'.

It's all about community and the various settings we go to every day where we can support wellbeing of others.

The best way you can spread the word about positive mental wellbeing and seeking support if you need it is by holding an event during Mental Health Week and jumping on social media to throw your support behind the campaign.

Register your event on the Mental Health Week website and we'll send you a 2018 Event Pack with useful information and resources to get you started.

You can also find ways to look after your mental wellbeing on the Think Mental Health website, which is a useful starting point for anyone attending your event who might like to know more.

Help spread the word in your community by connecting with us on social media, using resources in the lead up to and during Mental Health Week or starting a conversation with someone about mental health in the communities where you live, learn, work or play!

Visit mhw.waamh.org.au for more info.

#mentalhealthstartshere

You are invited to partner with us as we launch Mental Health Week in 2018.

Our expansive reach, materials and activities during Mental Health Week provides sponsors with an opportunity to promote their products, services and brand through cause-related marketing to a large portion of the WA community.

Mental Health Week offers a socially responsible brand alignment that directly supports better mental health outcomes in the community.

In the lead up to the week, strategically planned activities will pitch events and promotions to a large state-wide audience, ensuring sponsor organisations receive a high level of exposure to highlight their services.

Read Sponsorship Prospectus here.

WAAMH is providing funds to help you hold your own community event during the week (7-14 October, 2018). We hope this will provide you with additional support to recognise and celebrate Mental Health Week in your local communities.

We have grants available up to $1000 for you to help plan an event, activity or project in your local community which supports the goals of Mental Health Week. This money can be used to supplement some of your budgeted costs or to get your event off the ground. Applications close 3 September 2018.

Apply and find out more here.

TEN new members are being sought to join the Mental Health Advisory Council and help shape mental health in WA.

The Council provides advice to the Mental Health Commissioner regarding major issues affecting Western Australians with mental health issues, their carers and service providers.

Involving consumers, carers and the broader community in the decisions that affect them is critically important and enables the development of a mental health system that meets the needs of the community.

Read Minister for Mental Health Roger Cook's Media Statement.

Read the Mental Health Commission's EOI and application process here.

Applications close 3 August 2018.

OUR fellow mental health peak body for Victoria, has released a report, 'Saving Lives. Saving Money' which underscores the urgent boost needed in mental health funding.

It calls for $543 million in funding for mental health services by 2022, focusing on youth and adult preventative services, hospital beds, suicide prevention and access to housing.

Read the full report here.

THE next round of funding for the Pay it Forward Plan is now open.

This small grants program, coordinated by ConnectGroups in partnership with the Mental Health Commission, aims to empower and encourage self help and support groups to achieve positive mental health outcomes.

All projects must demonstrate clear and measurable mental health outcomes consistent with the Mental Health Commission's 'Western Australian Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drug Services Plan 2015-2025' and incorporate the principles of promotion of mental health; prevention of mental health problems and/or illness; a recovery approach; increased awareness, learning and sustainability of mental health; relationship building and community belonging.

Applications close 6 September 2018.

Visit ConnectGroups to find out more.

THE draft Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drug Workforce Strategic Framework 2018-2025 has been released by the Mental Health Commission. It was developed in consultation with WAAMH and other peaks, consumers, carers and family members.

The aim of the framework is to guide the growth and development of an appropriately qualified and skilled workforce that will provide individualised, high quality mental health and alcohol and other drug services and programs in WA.

Feedback on the draft closes on 29 August 2018.

Read the draft and complete the questionnaire here.

How can service providers better support people who have both mental health and alcohol & other drug problems?

WAAMH is looking at practical ways service providers working in the mental health sector can recognise and support a person with co-occurring mental health and alcohol & other drug problems, as part of a new project, funded by the WA Primary Health Alliance.

WAAMH project officer Mandy Kiely is working with four mental health organisations interested in building their capability in this area, to identify the systems and processes they already had in place to support people with co-occurring issues and build capacity where it was needed.

“We are fortunate that organisations such as the Mental Illness Fellowship of WA, Life Without Barriers, UnitingCare West and Rise Community Network are so committed to putting their clients first and learning how they can grow and develop as an organisation to better support people who have complex needs,” Ms Kiely said.

THE Australian Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation, newparadigm, is calling for abstracts for the Spring/Summer edition to be published in late 2018. This edition will explore best practice examples of integrated service provision in mental health and interrelated fields. The focus will be on best practice examples or other instances where a project provided valuable lessons for others who are attempting to provide a joined-up service model.

Abstracts of no longer than 500 words are due by Friday 3 August.

See the Mental Health Victoria website for all the guidelines.

WAAMH's Semester Two mental health training schedule has just been released, with Dialectical Behaviour Therapy kicking off on 1 August; Drugs, Alcohol & Mental Health on 16 August; Older Mental Health on 22 August; and De-escalation Techniques on 29 August.

Read a full list of course dates and descriptions here.

AUSTRALIAN mental health services lack the capability and capacity to respond to the needs of young people affected by trauma, a new report has found.

The report, Trauma and young people: moving toward trauma-informed services and systems, co-authored by Orygen, Centre for Excellence in Youth Mental Health and Phoenix Australia, Centre for Post-traumatic Mental Health, recommends  government, services and young people collaborate to develop better identification, assessment, support and treatment of trauma within mental health systems.

THE 2nd Annual NDIS and Mental Health Conference will be held on 31 October and 1 November 2018 in Melbourne.

Confirmed speakers include:

• The Hon. Julia Gillard AC Chair, beyondblue
• Julie Collins MP, Shadow Minister for Mental Health
• Senator Rachel Siewart, Greens Spokesperson for Mental Health
• Martin Foley MP, Minister for Mental Health (Victoria)
• Professor Diana Rose, King's College London
• Lucy Brogden, Chair National Mental Health Commission
• Rob De Luca, Chief Executive Officer, NDIA
• Professor Patrick McGorry AO, Executive Director of Orygen
• Dr Murray Wright, NSW Chief Psychiatrist
• John Brogden, AM, Consumer and Chair of Lifeline Australia
• Dr Gerry Naughtin, Mental Health Adviser, NDIA

Early bird registrations are now open with consumer and carer ticket rates available.

Purchase tickets.

Call for abstracts extended to 27 July 2018 – this will be the final due date for content.
 

SHELTER WA is holding an event on 8 August to update homelessness sector participants on policy and other developments that will affect you.

Over the past year, there has been significant work occurring within government and across the sector and this event offers a chance to find out how it all fits together, and what the opportunities are for you and your organisation.

RSVP and find out more here.

A FREE webinar will be broadcast on 23 July to increase clinicians’ expertise and ability to provide high quality, responsive, evidence-based treatment, care and support for people with borderline personality disorder (BPD).

Register now and tune in from 5:15pm WST at http://www.webcasts.com.au/mhpnspectrumbpd_230718/

The webinar will provide participants with the opportunity to:

• Outline how to identify youth with borderline personality disorder
• Identify age appropriate therapeutic interventions and treatment principles for youth
• Outline how to work appropriately with the young person and their family

Panel includes:

• Dr Louise McCutcheon (psychologist, Vic)
• Professor Andrew Chanen (psychiatrist, Vic)
• Carissa Wright (consumer, WA)
• Susan Preece (family peer support worker, Vic).