Abusive action this week from understandably frustrated and angry people in the context of public health imposed restrictions triggers a new level of concern in our community. 

It’s one of the things through these past few months that has really bothered me – and it’s because it seems the levels of frustration and despair are going unchecked – that the sense of working together as a community, and as a nation, have dissipated over time. This is despite government after government after government providing additional mental health support funding in response to the recognised mental health challenges for all of us of the personal, social and economic impact of this global pandemic.  

How do we gather our community again and look to working together to respond to the challenges we all face? The following are examples from this past week show we have more work to do:

• The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) have been receiving threats, intimidation and harassment of staff. 
• A GP practice near my home recently announced they would stop providing vaccines to the community as a result of the abuse staff were receiving from patients and their families. 
• Nurses and doctors in some hospitals and health care settings have reported increased abuse from members of the public as they go about their day-to-day work, including Mental Health Australia member cohealth.
• Demonstrations in Melbourne against public health orders in the construction industry resulted in injury to journalists, police and the general public.

And it’s not just happening between strangers. The United Nations tells us that globally, even before the COVID-19 pandemic began, 1 in 3 women experienced physical or sexual violence mostly by an intimate partner. The UN emerging data shows an increase in calls to domestic violence helplines in many countries since the outbreak of COVID-19. And in Australia, researchers from the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Centre for Justice have undertaken a national survey of domestic and family violence agencies and their clients which indicates a significant surge in demand.

So how do we respond when we ourselves feel overwhelmed, frustrated and helpless – or just able to keep on top of our own challenges?

The first step is to manage ourselves and model for others around us taking charge of our own frustration and managing it. The vaccine rates are increasing and our return to more freedom is coming. Until then, I provide in the link below some advice on managing anger during lockdown with thanks to Forensicare in Melbourne.  

And we can respond actively to the negativity we are seeing by countering it with community action, connection with others, building them up, reaching out to people we know are troubled and angry.

We must call out abuse and stand against violence, supporting the frontline leaders, health workers, teachers, police and many, many others whose work day-to-day is a gift to the community.

Have a good weekend.

Leanne Beagley
CEO

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Mental Health Australia Members policy consultation: NDIS legislation changes

Mental Health Australia invites Members with interest and/or expertise regarding psychosocial disability to a meeting to discuss the Australian Government’s proposed changes to NDIS legislation. 

The Australian Government has committed to establishing a Participant Service Guarantee to improve people’s experience of the NDIS. The Government commissioned a review of NDIS legislation, led by David Tune AO PSM, to guide implementation of this Guarantee. The current proposed legislation changes are largely in response to the recommendations of this 2019 review. Further information can be found through the Department of Social Services consultation webpage.

Mental Health Australia’s response to the Government consultation regarding these changes will be informed by a consultation meeting with members. This meeting will be held on Wednesday 29 September, 2-3pm AEST to meet the short timeframes for the Government’s consultation closing 7 October.

Please contact policy@mhaustralia.org for further information or to register. 

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World Mental Health Day - 10 Oct

Become a Partner

To become a partner for the upcoming World Mental Health Day campaign, and receive a FREE Partner Pack including the chance to record your own campaign video, please email nikki.hogan@mhaustralia.org or find out more on the World Mental Health Day website.

Some great videos have come through already, including this one starring Grant “Scooter” Patterson.

ANU: World Mental Health Day panel discussion

We are delighted to be partnering with the ANU for the World Mental Health Day online expert panel discussion on Friday 8 October at 12.30-2pm AEST. I will be joining a panel with Dr Hugh Mackay AO, Associate Professor Tegan Cruwys, Dr Amelia Gulliver, and Emeritus Professor Andrew Markus. The session will be moderated by Michelle Linmore from ANU Counselling. The panel will focus on practical ways to improve mental health, including ways to ease loneliness and create connections within our community. We hope this discussion will include ways that we as individuals can cope in the current context, but also ways in which Australia might best respond to emerging mental health challenges. 

Healthcare Professionals Research

We are conducting research into the mental health and wellbeing of Australian healthcare professionals, for public release on World Mental Health Day. Healthcare professionals are the most health-literate members of our society but are under significant pressure due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In line with the campaign theme, we are seeking to understand how the pandemic has affected you personally, and what strategies you have used to maintain your mental health and wellbeing in 2021. Your behaviours, tips and advice may provide valuable insight to the rest of the community during this challenging time. Please feel free to distribute the survey amongst health care colleagues. Find the survey here.

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Co-producing Lived Experience Leadership resources - a new partnership in mental health

The National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Forum (NMHCCF) and the National PHN Mental Health Lived Experience Engagement Network (MHLEEN) have established a formal partnership and MOU to co-contribute and co-produce mental health lived experience (consumers, carers and peer workers) leadership capacity resources.

The rationale for these projects is that an increasingly significant feature of the contemporary mental health policy environment is lived experience co-production and leadership.  The projects aim to consolidate and promote existing initiatives and resources to facilitate effective growth of mental health lived experience voices and leadership.

The three projects have NMHCCF and MHLEEN members on project steering groups. The projects are:

1. The establishment a central national repository of mental health consumer and carer leadership-related knowledge and initiatives to be included on the NMHCCF website
2. The co-design of a Mental Health Lived Experience Governance Framework and Toolkit to guide identified priority organisations and jurisdictions when engaging with people with lived experience, and
3. Review of formal lived experience leadership education and training

The projects are due for completion in mid-2022. Further information on these projects can be obtained from the NMHCCF Secretariat at: nmhccf@mhaustralia.org

Further information about the NMHCCF can be found at: www.nmhccf.org.au and further information about MHLEEN can be found at: https://mymentalhealth.org.au/consumers-and-carers/mental-health-lived-experience-engagement-network-mhleen

NEXT WEEK On Monday I will be meeting with Opposition spokesperson for Mental Health Emma McBride MP. On Tuesday I will welcome new team members Ash and Carol and meet with the new CEO of the Northern Territory peak for mental health Geoff Radford. Later Robyn Kruk and I will be meeting with Christine Morgan and Lucy Brogdan from the National Mental Health Commission. On Wednesday we have a members policy webinar to inform our submission to the NDIS on the legislative changes recently announced. On Thursday we have a Mental Health Australia Board meeting and later I will be meeting with the RACGP and Consumer Health Forum to progress our work on social prescribing. Friday 1 October marks the start of Mental Health Month and for a full calendar of ideas to look after your mental health, find the calendar here.   We will open Mental Health Month with a Members Policy Hub on Reducing Stigma and Discrimination and Video Consultation featuring Dr Michelle Blanchard from the National Mental Health Commission. I am also looking forward to a discussion on the digital gateway to a national mental health platform with the Department of Health. Later that day I have a meeting of the Child Working Group for the National Initial Assessment and Referral for Mental Health.

 

Member Benefits, Jobs and Profiles

Communicate your news, job vacancies, or upcoming events to more than 5,000 people in the mental health ecosystem weekly. Mental Health Australia members are invited to send us news, announcements, job vacancies, events or other notices for inclusion in the Weekly CEO Update newsletter. To do so, simply fill out this form by COB each Wednesday for your notice to appear in the newsletter the following Friday. Member Profiles NT Mental Health Coalition Northern Territory Mental Health Coalition is the peak body for community mental health and wellbeing. Our vision is for all Territorians to have the opportunity for the best possible mental health and wellbeing. Our purpose as the peak body is to bring a strong voice for mental health and wellbeing for the Northern Territory. CoHealth cohealth is a not-for-profit community health organisation that strives to improve health and wellbeing for all and lead the way in reducing health inequity in partnership with people and the communities in which they live. We have developed a unique model that provides a financially sustainable and impactful way to address social and environmental challenges and make a real difference.

Embrace Multicultural Mental Health News Workshops and Information Sessions for community groups and leaders The NSW Multicultural Health Communication Service working in partnership with UNSW is delivering a 2 hour training session for community leaders, community workers, and faith representatives working with CALD communities to promote uptake of vaccination, counter misinformation and address COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. To book a session contact: your local Multicultural Health Unit or the NSW Refugee Health Service. Contact the NSW Refugee Health Service to request an in-language information session on COVID-19 vaccinations to communities with a refugee background. Contact RHS for details. Western Sydney Local Health District has developed a 1-hour COVID-19 vaccine information session for CALD communities living in Western Sydney. Bilingual trainers can deliver it in Arabic, Dari, Dinka, Punjabi, Urdu. Contact Daniel.Apat@health.nsw.gov.au RHS’ Assyrian Vaccination Helpline RHS is trialing a helpline to assist Assyrian-speakers with questions they have about the COVID-19 vaccine and assist them book a vaccination appointment. Call 0459 884 573 during business hours.  Those who want to make a booking themselves can also use Vaccine Eligibility Checker which is available in Assyrian and Arabic (as well as other languages).

Mental Health News

New strategy and research centre to support Australians with eating disorders For the first time, Australia has a 10-year strategy which will guide critical research and transform how we treat and care for nearly one million Australians who suffer from bulimia, anorexia and other eating disorders. The federal government launched the Australian Eating Disorder Research and Translation Strategy 2021-2031. The Strategy, which has been developed under a $4 million federal grant by the InsideOut Institute, identifies the top 10 priority areas in greatest need of additional research. Read more International Association of Suicide Prevention Global Congress speech transcript Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, David Coleman, discusses COVID-19, suicide prevention and mental health. “There has never been a more critical time to talk about suicide prevention. COVID-19 is exacerbating many of the risk factors that are linked to mental distress, such as economic hardship and loneliness. In Australia, we’ve experienced an increase in ambulance attendances for suicidal and self-harm ideation, and increased levels of psychological distress — particularly for young people. Many Australians with no history of mental health concerns are now experiencing symptoms of distress for the first time.” Read more Poorer families have unhappier teens, study finds Australian teenagers who live in low-income households are more likely to experience poor mental health, new research from the University of Southern Queensland has found. The research, published in PLOS ONE, examined data from the Telethon Kids Institute’s Young Minds Matter survey of 2500 Australian adolescents aged 12-17. It found adolescents from families with lower incomes have a higher risk of suffering from mental health problems, including bullying victimisation, mental disorder, suicidal ideation and suicidal attempt, compared to those from richer families.  Read more

Reminders

Odd Socks Day GROW Australia’s Odd Socks Day is taking place on Friday 8 October. Help GROW reduce the stigma around mental ill-health and start the conversation now. Odd Socks Day is a fun way to approach a really serious topic. One in seven Australians will experience depression and one quarter of Australians will experience an anxiety condition in their lifetime. There are a number of easy ways you can participate in Odd Socks Day. COVID-19 vaccination – Disability provider kit The Department has published a series of materials as part of the COVID-19 vaccination – Disability provider kit. This set of resources are designed to help disability providers promote COVID-19 vaccination to their employees. 8th Rural & Remote Health Scientific Symposium #8RRHSS Virtual registrations are now open for the 8th Rural and Remote Health Scientific Symposium on 6-7 October. The full digital program retains the more than 60 research presentations, poster sessions and engagement with high-quality keynote speakers. The theme of the virtual symposium is ‘Connecting research, practice and communities’ – bringing together rural health academics, clinical researchers and practitioners, students, as well as policymakers engaged with the Alliance and the rural health sector. The Alliance hosts the Symposium in conjunction with the Australian Rural Health Education Network, the Federation of Rural Australian Medical Educators and the Lowitja Institute. Walk for Wellness this World Mental Health Day One Door Mental Health is holding a Walk for Wellness during the week following World Mental Health Day – 10 to 16 October. The virtual event will encourage people to register their support and run or walk anytime, anywhere in their local community in a COVID-safe way. Even a simple walk around the block can help improve mental and physical health. Blueprint for Mentally Healthy Workplaces The Blueprint for Mentally Healthy Workplaces aims to define a vision of mentally healthy workplaces that can be shared by all organisations and businesses across Australia. It also defines the core principles and focus areas for creating environments that protect, respond, and promote to support mental health. This Blueprint is a living document that will be refined over time. The National Mental Health Commission are seeking feedback from a wide range of organisations, businesses, unions, government agencies, professional associations, service providers and the mental health and workplace health sectors to shape the Blueprint. The Family Project The Family Project supports the mental, emotional and physical wellbeing of families by sharing an inspirational and clinically supported daily family project.  Launched at the start of the NSW school holidays, the Project starts with some really fun, activity-based content and then balances this with more emotional and physical wellbeing content thereafter. Australian Institute of Family Studies 2022 Conference  The Australian Institute of Family Studies 2022 Conference will be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, 15 – 17 June 2022. Call for abstract submissions are now open for presentations, roundtable sessions or symposia on a diverse range of issues affecting family wellbeing such as: Family relationships; Parenting, child development and caring; Families and financial circumstances; Family law; Challenges for families. Submissions close Thursday, 14 October 2021. A full list of plenary speakers is available, and sponsorship packages to engage with audiences are also available through the AIFS Conference website. COVID-19 Vaccine Provider Alert - 21 September 2021 The Department of Health has issued its next COVID-19 vaccination – Disability Provider Alert 21 September 2021. In this update you will find important information on: current hubs offering vaccination services, state and territory based clinics and how to book, support for people with disability through the Disability Gateway, the next phase of the Government’s vaccine advertising campaign, and new resources including social media, video and Easy Reads.