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#QMHW15: Hats off for better mental health (taken at the Queensland Mental Health Achievement Awards)
Commissioner's Update
Mental Health Week 2015 
Mental Health Week 2015 has exceeded expectations with 92 registered events and many, many others aimed at raising awareness, reducing stigma and discrimination and promoting early intervention right across the State.
Thank you to the many community organisations who committed time, effort and spirit to improving the mental health and wellbeing of all Queenslanders — you’ve knocked our (odd) socks off, well done!
Time for early action
We’re grateful to Minister for Health Cameron Dick for launching the Early Action: Queensland Mental Health Promotion, Prevention and Early Intervention Action Plan 2015-17 at the Commission’s mental health week event.
It was great to have so many leaders in mental health, the government and community sectors stand up and support better mental health and wellbeing.
We very much appreciate your efforts!
Grants announced
The Commission is pleased to have again allocated over $450,000 in Stronger Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Grants to projects across the State. Congratulations to grant recipients, we look forward to seeing more supportive and inclusive communities as a result of your hard work.
ABC Heads Up
Thanks also to the ABC for its ongoing support of mental health week and the special Heads Up broadcast on youth mental health with Professor Pat McGorry, Advisory Council member Amelia Callaghan and Minister Cameron Dick. A must listen conversation. Watch Heads Up
Work underway
We are busy finalising our submissions on the Mental Health Bill to the Parliamentary Committee and the Australian Human Rights Commission Willing to Work enquiry.
How’s your Commission going?
I get asked this question a lot. The best measure of how we’re going is not my assessment, but yours. In our annual survey you spoke.
- You said things are moving in the right direction, but that it would take time to make a difference
- Over 90% of you said three years was needed for real systemic change to take effect
- You also told us that the Commission’s credibility had increased, and so too had your satisfaction, particularly in terms of your opportunity to contribute to the work we do.
The next most popular question is What’ve we been up to? Well the long answer is in our Annual Report 2014-15, but there’s a BBQ version in the works and a video too, for those who prefer things in a nutshell.
Latest news
Early action delivered
Maintaining positive mental health and wellbeing is important to all Queenslanders, wherever they are.
Strong mental health and wellbeing enables us to cope with the everyday stresses of life, make a productive contribution to our community and achieve our full potential.
Some mental illnesses can be prevented, and by acting early we can reduce the number of people who experience mental illness in our State.
We can also support recovery, because the foundation for recovery is good mental health and wellbeing.
Early Action: Queensland Mental Health Promotion, Prevention and Early Intervention Action Plan 2015-17 contains 99 new and continuing actions by 16 Queensland Government agencies, as well as cross-sectoral, whole-of-community collaboration to improve the mental health and wellbeing of Queenslanders.
Commission actions
Commission actions under the Early Action: PPEI Action Plan include:
- Trial and evaluate the Perinatal Mental Health Awareness Project
- Identify options to expand the reach of the Ed-LinQ initiative
- Develop and support localised wellbeing hubs in up to three local government areas
- Develop a more coordinated approach to mental health awareness training (such as Mental Health First Aid Training).
Read all 99 actions in the Action Plan
Grants announced
The second year of the Stronger Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Grants Program looks to be just as exciting as the first. Since 2014, the Commission has invested $1.48 million for activities that promote positive mental health and wellbeing in over 50 locations across Queensland.
Projects in the latest round include:
- $50,000 for a drought relief support officer in Richmond Shire
- $49,910 for the Yarnings for Life project in Hervey Bay, Maryborough and Bundaberg
- $50,000 for the By Youth, For Youth project in Brisbane
- $50,000 for the e-Grow Rural Queensland Pilot in Roma and Emerald.
Read about the 2015-16 grant recipients
Lived experience
Lived experience shared
The Commission’s lived experience consultant Dr Louise Byrne has shared her personal experience and perspective of living with mental illness, through to recovery and healing via a series of lived experience videos.
Using a ‘frequently asked questions’ format, Louise provides insight into supporting a loved one with mental health challenges as well as suggestions for involvement in lived experience work.
We’re working with Louise to develop better engagement and support for people with lived experience, family members and carers via our website.
Your input is vital
Please drop us a line to let us know your ideas and what information you’d like to see to better support you. Email media@qmhc.qld.gov.au
Including lived experience perspectives
The Commission has commenced two projects to build understanding of how people with a lived experience, families and carers are currently being involved in the design and delivery of mental health, alcohol and other drug services, policy and evaluation — and how this can be improved.
The Mapping of Engagement project will be collecting state-wide data from mental health, alcohol and other drug service providers on the ways and extent to which they are engaging those with lived experience.
These projects will help us identify good practice as well as gaps, and allow us to measure how engagement is changing over time.
You’ll hear more as these projects progress.
Champions for change
Congratulations to The Greater South Joint Mental Health Collaborative, Kyabra Community Association, Carers Queensland, and Brisbane South Primary Health Network Partners in Recovery for producing the Champions for Change booklet.
The booklet emphasises that recovery is supported when families and carers are involved as partners.
It provides a family engagement and support framework, and recommends the following principles for involving and including families and carers:
- Respect for and understanding of the role of families and carers in a person’s wellbeing, recovery and continuity of care
- Rights to information, involvement, collaborative planning, support and recognition manifest in practical ways
- Services and assistance are provided in a warm, honest, consistent and caring way
- Carers and families are connected with each other, and support the broader community
- Services are coordinated and integrated.
Read the Champions for Change booklet
National Carers Week
It’s National Carers Week from 11-17 October 2015. Help reach the target of 20,000 online pledges to help build a carer-friendly Australia and/or be part of the many local Carers Week events happening across Queensland.
Go to the Queensland Carers Week website or the national website
Lived experience volunteers needed
Peachtree is searching for volunteer facilitators with a lived experience of perinatal mental illness or other mental illness, who can commit three hours per week to supporting parents experiencing perinatal mental health issues. Peachtree will provide training, professional support and ongoing education and personal development opportunities. If you, or anyone you know may be interested in knowing more about these roles, please email peachtree@peachtree.org.au
Alcohol and other drugs
Draft national drug strategy
Be heard!
The draft National Drug Strategy 2016-2025 is open for consultation until 27 October 2015.
The draft strategy describes a nationally agreed harm minimisation approach to reducing the harm arising from alcohol, tobacco and other drug use.
The draft strategy also outlines priority actions, groups and drug types and summarises effective demand, supply and harm reduction strategies.
The strategy also includes headline indicators to monitor success.
You can provide your feedback by either a 10 minute online survey or a written submission.
Have your say on the draft National Drug Strategy
Other news
Getting NDIS ready
- What should Queensland’s human services system look like post-NDIS?
- How can we maximise the benefits for people with mental illness and problematic alcohol and other drug use?
- How do we maintain support for people with mental health or substance use issues who don’t qualify for NDIS?
These are the questions posed in a QMHC discussion paper on the opportunities and risks presented by the NDIS and broader service system reforms.
Queensland stakeholders recently got together to start this conversation and map a way forward.
Queensland Alliance for Mental Health will lead this ongoing collaboration to help the sector plan for and influence the transition to NDIS; and represent the views of consumers, service users, families and carers.
Read the discussion paper
Achievement rewarded
Congratulations to the deserving winners of the #QMHW15 Mental Health Achievement Awards.
- Maddy Dyer won the Youth Award and took the honours in the Earle Duus Award. Maddy has grown up providing care and support for her Dad who has a severe psychiatric illness and diabetes. Maddy is 17 years old and lives with her Mum, who works full time and is currently completing Year 12 studies at Rockhampton State High School. As a young carer she has seen how music can transform mood and provide a welcome release for people dealing with mental health issues and has seen this first hand with her Dad. She is an advocate for mental health awareness at her school as well as in the community.
- Leisa-Jane Scott took out the Media Award for her coverage of youth suicide in The Courier-Mail QWeekend magazine. Leisa-Jane’s article takes the reader from the funeral of a promising footballer who took his life to the broader issue of youth suicide, focussing on those young males considered to ‘have it all’.
- Karen Tyrell won the Jude Bugeja Peer Experience Award. Karen is a survivor of bullying, PTSD and mental illness who strives to help peers and others to live strong. Karen’s mission is sharing her learnings and experiences to empower adults and children, families and carers with positive resilience skills, and creating personal wellness plans through her books.
- The Large Business Workplace Award went to EY for their work to place mental health at the forefront of their Wellness Program. EY recognises that its greatest assets are the minds of their people. They continue to destigmatise mental health by talking openly about mental health issues at induction days, team meetings, partner meetings and milestone events. EY has a range of strategies to enhance the quality of life and wellbeing for their people and support those with a mental illness.
- The winner of the SME Workplace Award was Psych Professionals, a private practice with a dedicated Child and Adolescent Mental Health Centre in Capalaba and a dedicated Trauma Centre in Loganholme. The practice has a multi-disciplinary team of clinical psychologists, OTs, Speech Pathologists and Animal-assisted Therapists who provide an integrated mental health home for clients, families and the local community.
- IMPACT Community Services took out the Large Not-for-Profit Organisation Award for their work providing wrap-around, holistic community-based delivery supporting over 4,500 people in the Bundaberg and North Burnett regions. Impact delivers services which support the most vulnerable, disadvantaged and marginalised members of the community. Impact help families and individuals build resilience and reconnect with community in a positive way to improve quality of life.
- Mindspot Clinic won the SME Not-for-Profit Organisation Award. Mindspot is a highly innovative initiative designed to provide free, safe and effective internet-delivered mental health care to Australian adults with anxiety or depression. The clinic helps people learn about their symptoms by providing online and telephone assessments; helps consumers and carers learn about and access local services; and provides online psychological treatments.
- The Individual Award was won by Dr Louise Byrne. Louise demonstrates a passion and commitment to social change and service change through her work and openness in discussing her lived experience. Louise advocates for people with lived experience and the potential for possibility and recovery through her work.
Many others too
Well done to all the nominees and finalists, all of whom make a terrific contribution to mental health, drug and alcohol services in this State.
You can read more about the finalists in the Achievement Awards Program
Thank you to the judges Kristine Trott, Chris O’Meara, Debra Spink and Jacinta Hawgood for undertaking a very difficult task choosing between so many excellent nominees; and thanks also to Open Minds for coordinating the Achievement Awards, one of the many events for Queensland Mental Health Week.
Inspiration
Just as inspirational, caring and committed as the 2015 Achievement Award alumni, are those who took out awards in 2014. Hear their stories in a series of videos prepared in the lead up to this year’s awards.
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Helen Glover, enlightened Consultants — Winner 2014 Individual and Earle Duus Awards |
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Corinda State High School – Winner 2014 Workforce Award |
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Mental Illness Fellowship Queensland (MIFQ) Art Exhibition – Winner 2014 Organisational Award |
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The Carer and Family Working Group — Winner 2014 Jude Bugeja Consumer / Carer Award |
#QMHW15 feedback
While it’s still fresh in your mind, we’d appreciate your feedback on Queensland Mental Health Week 2015, and your brilliant ideas for 2016. Fill in the #QMHW15 survey
Council update
Make a difference: Apply to our Advisory Council
Do you want to make a difference to Queenslanders living with mental health or substance use issues?
If you’re interested in reform and you’re an effective advocate for people with mental illness, consider applying for a seat on the Queensland Mental Health and Drug Advisory Council.
Applications are open for Queenslanders to provide expert advice and guidance on mental health and problematic substance use issues.
Council positions are open to people from a range of personal, professional and cultural backgrounds.
Applications close on 19 October 2015.
For more information go to the Queensland Health website
Employment investment
At their recent meeting, Council members discussed the role of social enterprises in creating flexible, supportive workplaces that provide long term employment and a pathway for transitioning to mainstream employment.
The Council has suggested creating a Queensland social enterprise investment fund to expand employment opportunities for people with a lived experience of mental illness and substance use issues.
Read the Meeting Communiqué
Profile: Etienne Roux
Etienne has an interest in social inclusion and is committed to inspiring, motivating and empowering young people in shaping their own future.
As General Manager of Service Development with Access Community Service he works tirelessly to promote social inclusion, foster community development and engage young people in service delivery, including mental health interventions for culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
For the past seven years he has worked predominantly with people from a refugee background, those in marginalised communities and newly arrived migrants.
Etienne holds a range of leadership and executive positions including with the MYAN Queensland, and the Research and Development Committee at Access.
Sector News
Grants
The next round of the Gambling Community Benefit Fund grant program opens mid-October 2015 and closes on 30 November 2015. Grants up to $35,000 are available. Apply for funding
The Brisbane City Council Men’s Shed Grants Program is open. Grants up to $20,000 are available to support the establishment and development of Men's Sheds in Brisbane. Apply
The Brisbane City Council Housing Support Program is open. Funding up to $10,000 is available to community organisations for projects or services that respond to the housing and social needs of homeless people in Brisbane's inner north. Apply
Applications are open for Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month Community Grants. Grants up to $3,000 are available to hold activities or events during Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Month in May 2016 to raise awareness and help prevent domestic and family violence. Find out more
Resources
Mental Health Magazine – Launched this month, the MHM is an information service for people with a mental illness. The magazine’s goal is to prevent suicide and help people with a mental illness toward a better quality of life. MHM is a publication run by people with a mental illness and half of the content will be provided by people with a mental illness. Subscribe
New suicide assessment toolkit — AOD workers have a new evidence-based resource from NDARC and NADA to help with managing and assessing suicide risk, including warning signs for suicide, keep safe strategies, safety plan and safety plan on exit templates and staff resources. The NDARC website has the toolkit, video links and other useful information.
Webinar on the Australian Mental Health Care Classification – Mental Health Australia and Independent Hospital Pricing Authority (IHPA) participated in this webinar which provides an accessible introduction to a technically complex area and a preliminary understanding in preparation for the public consultation on version one of the classification, scheduled for early next month. Watch the webinar
Mental Health Services in Australia – Developed by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, the website provides easy access to a wide range of information on the prevalence of mental health conditions in the community, national policies that impact the sector, specialist mental health care and much more. Visit the website
Alcohol and other drug prevention in the family – Fact sheet published by the Australian Drug Foundation "Drug Info" provides a plain English overview of best practice alcohol and other drug prevention strategies. Download the fact sheet
Events
29 October 2015: ASCA Recognising and Responding to Vicarious Trauma training workshop
5-6 November 2015: Tree of Life for Community Work 2-day workshop – For counsellors, teachers, allied health workers, youth workers and anyone who is working with others who have experienced loss or trauma. Full details and registration
11-12 November 2015: Mental Health Peer Worker Conference – Brisbane. More here
13 November 2015: Outreach Symposium & Cocktail Reception – Brisbane. The Outreach Symposium is a collaborative event hosted by CheckUP and the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council to showcase best practice models of care that are delivering vital health care services to people in rural and remote areas of Queensland. Register here
1-3 December 2015: 4th Indigenous Health Conference – Cairns. More information
October – November 2015: QCOSS Human Services Quality Framework: Quality Pathways Training Program Workshops – multiple locations across Queensland. Find a workshop near you on the QCOSS website
Give your feedback
Take five minutes to give us your feedback! Evaluate the:
Queensland Suicide Prevention Action Plan 2015-17
Ordinary Report Social Housing: Systemic issues for tenants with complex needs
Submission on Queensland’s Mental Health Bill 2015
Suicide Prevention Discussion Paper
Awareness, Prevention and Early Intervention Discussion Paper
Reducing alcohol and other drug impacts in Queensland Discussion Paper
