This week I made my welcome return back to Canberra where I reconnected with our Mental Health Australia team.

It was great to have the opportunity to sit down, reflect on my travels over the last weeks, and share some of the stories and my experiences from the Indigenous Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Conference in Darwin and the people I had the privilege to meet in the mental health system in Darwin.

The conference was the first I have ever attended where there were more First Nations attendees than non-Indigenous participants, and it was simply awe-inspiring and a real honour to be with such a powerful and committed group of people.

Conference participants delved deep into the process of truth-telling, healing, and bringing different world views together respectfully.

There was a lot of discussion about the impacts of intergenerational trauma, and the significance of connection to country and culture – particularly the importance of birthing on Country and connection to culture in the early years of life.

We know that culture is central to a child’s individuality, identity and sense of belonging. For First Nations people, culture is a connection that extends beyond personal relationships with people, it encompasses relationships with nature, astronomy, ancestry and the past – land, sea, fire and sky are central to wellbeing. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health is viewed in a holistic context, that encompasses mental health and physical, cultural and spiritual health. These concepts of social and emotional wellbeing, mental health and healing should be recognised across all parts of the Australian health system, and in some circumstances support specialised areas of practice.

As we come to the end of NAIDOC week for 2022, let’s continue to Get Up! Stand Up! Show Up! for systemic change.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander presence and leadership is required across all parts of the Australian mental health system for it to adapt to, and be accountable to, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples for the achievement of the highest attainable standard of mental health and suicide prevention outcomes.

Now is the time to support and secure institutional, structural, collaborative, and cooperative reforms. And we need to do this together. The relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non‑Indigenous Australians must be based on truth, justice, equity, and the proper recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rights.

The last line of the Uluru Statement From the Heart says, “We invite you to walk with us in a movement of the Australian people for a better future.”

This is a welcoming invitation to come together, and a powerful call to action.

Dr Leanne Beagley

CEO

“People feel more well when they belong somewhere to something”

Social participation is about engaging with other people – it’s related to personal feelings of connectedness, and societal inclusion – and is important for everyone’s mental health and wellbeing, as well as supporting recovery for people with experience of mental ill-health.

Mental Health Australia recently published a position statement on Social Participation and Mental Health, which outlines actions that governments and communities should take together to improve social participation.

Thanks to the member organisations, people with lived experience of mental health challenges, carers, and researchers who all contributed to this position statement.

Reporting to the Director Policy & Research this position plays a vital role in the successful leadership of the Policy and Research Team.

Reporting to the Director External Relations this senior position will be required to manage a range of projects and lead a small team to deliver the Embrace Project program initiatives with a focus on culturally appropriate tools and communication products, designed to improve mental health services for CALD communities.

This NAIDOC week, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Social Justice team at the Australian Human Rights Commission has launched the Yajilarra nhingi, mindija warrma (from dreams, let’s make it reality) animation.  Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women’s Voices) is a ground-breaking report and project, driven by First Nations Women and Girls across the nation. The story of Wiyi Yani U Thangani (Women’s Voices) tells of the strength, resilience, sovereignty and power of First Nations women and girls. It is a voice for hope and change.

The meeting discussed the challenges facing all State and Territory health systems and the need for urgent work to make it easier for Australians to receive healthcare when and where they need it and to relieve pressure on our hospitals, including in regional, rural and remote areas.

The latest report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) has reinforced the urgent need for a national suicide prevention act, after it confirmed high levels of distress in our community as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and consecutive natural disasters.

Australia’s health 2022 is the AIHW’s 18th biennial report on the health of Australians. It is a mix of short statistical updates and longer discussions exploring selected topical health issues. The report highlights key health challenges facing Australia, including the prolonged impact of COVID, the health of First Nations peoples, mental health and chronic disease.  

The engagement approach will guide how the Commission communicates on its review of the National Agreement. Successful engagement, and in particular with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, is critical to ensure the Review is effective. The Commission’s approach is underpinned by commitments under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, most notably in relation to shared decision-making, cultural safety and responsiveness.  The engagement approach is intended to be dynamic and may be refined over time as the Commission learns from its engagement on the Review.

The Australian Medical Students Association (AMSA) calls for medical schools and healthcare systems across the nation to actively support students and professionals with disabilities. Current healthcare systems are lacking the protocols and resources to adequately address the various challenges encountered by medical students and health professionals. “We need to see the appropriate pathways for more students and professionals with disabilities in healthcare,” said Jasmine Davis, President of AMSA.

People from diverse backgrounds struggle to find adequate mental health support. Among other issues, the voices in this article from the ABC raise the importance of culturally responsive mental health care and the need for culturally inclusive practice

The government has announced more support for people accessing the National Redress Scheme for survivors of institutional child sexual abuse. More than $39.7 million in grant funding will go to boosting support services accessed from July 1 over two years to 2023-24.

Polling data suggests that the rate of loneliness among older adults spiked during the pandemic, but younger people seem to have suffered from loneliness at even higher rates as a result of social distancing

People with disability in Australia brings together information from a range of national data sources to contribute to a greater understanding of disability in Australia. Some people with disability face challenges routinely and actively participating in everyday life areas (such as employment) and are more likely to experience poor health, discrimination and violence than those without disability.

Join special guest, Dr Leanne Beagley for a webinar on social connection, isolation and loneliness, Thursday 14 July at 1pm AEST

The Young Carer Bursary Program supports eligible young carers to continue their education by offering bursaries of $3000 a year to assist with their educational needs. Young Carers are at greater risk of developing physical and mental health issues; are more likely to experience social isolation and often have limited access to opportunities and experiences compared to their peers.

Join SANE for a live webinar July 13 2:00PM- 2:45PM (EST) to find out about their new guided service for people aged 18 years and over with complex mental health issues and their families and carers living in your region.

Held virtually over two half-days, Perspectives 2022 will feature a line-up of Lived Experience speakers, leaders and advocates, including Fay Jackson, the Deputy Commissioner of the Mental Health Commission of NSW and General Manager, Inclusion at Flourish Australia.

This training program offered by BlueKnot builds on the trauma responsive leadership training program which introduced the concept of secure base leadership and focused on the foundation of understanding self in a leadership role.

Eating Disorder Core Skills: eLearning for Mental Health Professionals is comprehensive foundational eating disorder training developed specifically for mental health professionals. The five-hour, self-paced and interactive online training includes practical real-life scenarios and activities, videos from leaders in the field and people with a lived experience of an eating disorder, up-to-date resources and a formal assessment.

Systematic Tailored Assessment for Responding to Suicidality (STARS) is a person-centred, psycho-social, needs-based semi-structured interview. It was developed to provide a very initial insight into the complex world of a suicidal person to inform immediate collaborative and compassionate client care, including further examination of suicidality as necessary.

Final places are available, but going quickly.  

Cohort intake start date: August 1st 2022 (4 weeks to complete the course)

Structure: 12 – 15 hours online, followed by 1-day skills-based webinar

Entry criteria: must have some experience working with those in suicidal distress.

The 16th National Rural Health Conference will be held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on 2–4 August 2022.

The full program for the 16th National Rural Health Conference is now available online. The program includes details of keynote, invited and concurrent speakers. Keynote speakers now include well-known journalist and author Stan Grant.

The Department of Health has commissioned Nous Group to undertake a review of the drivers of antidepressant prescribing behaviours, with a particular focus on children and adolescents.

The review will seek to understand what is currently in place to support best practice responses to mental health conditions, the drivers of antidepressant prescribing, and what changes could be made to support more effective responses to mental health conditions.

On Thursday 4 August 4:00-5:00pm AEST, Nous will hold a virtual focus group with representatives from mental health organisations. Due to limited numbers, only 1-2 representatives from each organisation can attend. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact samara.barchet@nousgroup.com.au

If you would like to attend, email angela.young@nousgroup.com.au by Thursday 21 July (CC samara.barchet@nousgroup.com.au) to register your interest.

Suicide Prevention Australia’s National Suicide Prevention Conference 2023 will be held over 1 – 4 May in Canberra. This event provides a gateway to unite suicide prevention experts to showcase evidence-based solutions and robust discussion, focused on solutions for saving lives.