QMHC eNews - Issue 21

Commissioner's Update

Out and about

In the last week, I have had the opportunity to meet with a wide range of people at the National Suicide Prevention Conference in Hobart and the third Aboriginal Health Summit in Darwin. We can all be proud of the Queenslanders who presented at those forums.

I am mindful that we have not spent much time out of Brisbane in the last few months. We are currently finalising plans to consult across Queensland in relation to our work in drug and alcohol.

Thank you to all those people who responded to our discussion paper as a precursor to the Suicide Prevention Action Plan which is now being finalised. At the same time, we look forward to decisions by the Australian Government about their ongoing commitment to suicide prevention.

Alcohol culture

The Australian Winter School Conference and the Commission’s own research have underlined the extent of Australia’s culture of alcohol and the damage it inflicts — far in excess of the impact of drugs.

This is reinforced by data collated by the Australian Drug Foundation (above), which indicates by the age of 12, a child will have seen 1300+ alcohol ads on TV. The ADF data includes:

• Alcohol costs society $15.3 billion annually (almost double that of illicit drugs, and more than double tax revenues)
• Alcohol caused four times more deaths than road accidents in 2010
• Alcohol contributes to the three major causes of teen death

Following an expert Round Table and input from peak bodies, service providers and academics, the Commission is releasing its Alcohol and Other Drug Discussion Paper on Monday 10 August 2015, as the fore-runner to an Action Plan to be published later in the year. Save the date in your calendar as a reminder to check our website so you can have your say.

Willing to Work

Register now to participate in the Australian Human Rights Commission’s Willing to Work consultations in Queensland in the next few weeks.  We will give you more news about developing our submission next month.

Listening to consumers, families, carers

Letters, emails, phone calls

Volunteer support

The Commission was recently contacted by a volunteer who provides friendship and support to several people with mental health or substance use difficulties.

The volunteer assists with general day-to-day activities such as doctor appointments, shopping trips and social outings like coffee catch-ups. We connected this volunteer with an organisation that coordinates mental health volunteers in the Brisbane region to deliver these much needed support services.

During this process we’ve identified a need for more information about organisations that coordinate and support mental health volunteers, right across the State.

This will help current or potential volunteers connect to organisations that can provide the right direction and support. If this sounds like your organisation please let us know. Email info@qmhc.qld.gov.au

Empowering consumers, families and carers

Survey gives carers a voice

For the fifth year Carers Queensland is doing a Quality of Life Audit for the State’s 484,400 carers. The survey is designed to find out about carers’ wellbeing, including access to adequate healthcare and education, the environment they live in and ability to connect with other carers and peers.

The audit will bring attention to the quality of life of carers who put the needs of those in their care ahead of their own.

By participating carers will be helping to ensure they are heard by Carers Queensland and all levels of government when delivering services and making decisions that affect the way carers live.

The survey is open to all current and former carers and is confidential. The survey closes on 30 August 2015. Access to the Quality of Life Audti survey.

Help improve safety and quality of care in hospitals

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care is developing a questionnaire to enable patients to have a say in improving quality and safety of care in hospitals all over Australia.

Health Consumers Queensland has extended an invitation to anyone who has stayed at least one night in hospital or attended a community-based health service during the last six months to share your experiences in a focus group to help with the development of the questionnaire.

Focus groups will be held in Townsville on 31 August 2015 and in Brisbane on 6 September 2015.

Email the Patient Experience Team at pex@safetyandquality.gov.au to register your interest in participating by 19 August 2015.

Read more information is on improving safety and quality of care in hospitals.

Don’t listen to the darkness

Rebeka Rain was a feature act at the Suicide Prevention Conference in Cairns in June. In her song Don’t listen to the darkness she recounts her own powerful and emotional lived experience of losing her son to suicide through song. Listen to Rebeka Rain's address at Suicide Prevention Conference.

Australian Winter School Conference 2015

Highlights

The annual Australian Winter School Conference once again provided a wealth of information, research, trends and innovation from the AOD sector last month.

Myths and misconceptions around alcohol and drug use and treatment were explored and debunked beginning with a stimulating international keynote by Dr Igor Koutsenok of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

Presented by Lives Lived Well in partnership with the Commission, the conference was officially opened by Queensland’s Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Training and Skills, The Honourable Yvette D’Ath MP.

Highlights include:

• Alcohol advertising online - the use of aggressive and interactive alcohol advertising tactics on social media platforms and how the sector can respond online through health promotion
• FASD – taking a closer look at the hidden epidemic of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
• Domestic violence – looking at the relationship between alcohol and domestic violence and family violence and the need to foster better co-ordination between services
• Working with Indigenous communities – exploring how alcohol and drug treatment can be more accessible
• Ice epidemic? Speaker Associate Professor Nicole Lee thought not. Only 1% of the population use ice on regular or semi-regular basis – 70% are irregular users, 15% occasional and 15% regular. What has increased is the ice-related harm – up 300% on mental health admission for psychosis.

Missed the conference? Download the presentations

Improving access to specialist AOD services

Queensland’s drug and alcohol peak body QNADA is working with service providers on Brisbane's northside on a project to improve access to specialist AOD services for people with mental illness and complex needs.

The project aims to boost understanding of alcohol and other drug models of care in the mental health sector and develop an online referral resource. It will deliver a series of dual diagnosis forums, an online repository of harm reduction resources and develop an integrated care pathway.

The project is funded by North Brisbane Partners in Recovery (PiR) Innovation Fund.

To participate or contribute, contact Janelle Rees, QNADA’s Improved Services Coordinator by calling 3023 5050 or via email at Janelle.Rees@qnada.org.au.

Improving our wellbeing

According to the 2014 Regional Wellbeing Survey lower levels of individual and community wellbeing are more commonly reported by people living in rural or regional areas in Queensland and Western Australia than other states, and Queenslanders are less likely than those in other states to report higher levels of wellbeing.

Our best chance to improve mental health and wellbeing is not in our hospitals or health services. They are important. But it is in our homes and when we are at work, school or play.

The question is: how can we create families, schools, workplaces and communities where wellbeing and resilience are the norm?

Be heard

In a step towards a Queensland Awareness, Prevention and Early Intervention Action Plan, the Commission has released a discussion paper to gather your views.

Is the proposed approach right? Are there other actions that need to be considered? Are there opportunities to build on what is already happening?

Read the discussion paper here and give us your feedback. Email your comments to APEI@qmhc.qld.gov.au or post on our Facebook page by 21 August 2015.

Grants now open

Local government and non-government groups wanting to strengthen mental health and wellbeing in their communities can apply for grants up to $50,000.

The Queensland Mental Health Commission’s Stronger Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Grants Program 2015-16 is now open.

This year the grants focus on social inclusion and community participation for people experiencing mental health problems or illness, or problems around alcohol and other drug use.

Projects should promote supportive relationships, connection to others and activities that build confidence and self-worth and contribute to good mental health and wellbeing.

Apply now

Apply on our website. Applications close 31 August 2015.

QMHC sponsorship policy

The Commission receives many requests for financial and in-kind support for events, conferences and other activities during the year. To manage and assess these requests the Commission has implemented a sponsorship policy.

Applications for sponsorship of up to $10,000 will be assessed on a quarterly basis against eligibility requirements.

More information on our sponsorship policy including who can apply, how requests will be assessed and what to include in your request for sponsorship can be found on our website.

Culturally inclusive services

Framework for Multicultural Australia

Mental Health in Multicultural Australia (MHiMA) has produced some great work in the Framework for Mental Health in Multicultural Australia, particularly around culturally inclusive service delivery.

The framework helps organisations and individual workers to evaluate their responsiveness and enhance their delivery of services for CALD communities. The framework includes an Organisational Cultural Responsiveness Assessment Scale, implementation guides, resources and information.

Check out the Framework for Mental Heath in Multicultural Australia, including this video about implementing the framework. Well done MHiMA.

Helping refugee communities with problematic AOD use

QNADA has produced a guide for community support and AOD workers on helping asylum seekers and refugee background communities with problematic alcohol and other drug use.

It addresses issues such as how to raise the use of alcohol and other drugs, harm reduction strategies, barriers to treatment, available training and resources, and cultural competency, through to more sensitive issues such as torture and trauma.

Download the QNADA's guide.

Shaping a positive future

The story of two Indigenous communities

A proud and vibrant cultural identity, emphasising family ties, and individual, family and community wellbeing is the focus of a unique program in Cherbourg and Kuranda.

The National Empowerment Project has made a positive difference in these communities in less than two years.

The NEP is a national initiative led by the School of Indigenous Studies at The University of Western Australia, delivered in Queensland by the Ngoonbi Co-operative Society, and funded by the Commission.

Read more and watch the ‘Resilience’ video about the program’s success in Queensland.

World Suicide Prevention Day

Roses in the Ocean

10 September is World Suicide Prevention Day. The Commission has been working with Roses in the Ocean to create engaging public events in Brisbane and Hervey Bay.

The aim of the events is to connect communities with their local service providers from the suicide prevention and mental health sectors, and encourage people to reach out for help if they need it.  The events will also provide people an opportunity to learn more about how everyone can play a role in suicide prevention and the importance of reaching out to others.

The theme of WSPD this year is Reaching Out and Saving Lives.

Fly the Flag for WSPD

Mates in Construction is calling on construction sites, offices and workplaces to Fly the Flag for WSPD as a sign of industry commitment to reduce rates of suicide in the construction industry. Register to participate here

2015 Qld Mental Health Week

Get ready for the biggest MHW yet

Are you ready? It's time for the big event that celebrates the mental health sector in Queensland. It's had a makeover and is looking bigger, fresher and sassier than ever.

Don't be late to the party! Have your got your event planned? So many great ideas here, or come up with your own unique event.

Event ideas

What about hosting and promoting a:

• BBQ, coffee day or 'lunchbox' get together - invite friends, family, work mates to join in
• Walk or bike ride - bring the pets and a picnic too
• Information booth - at the local shopping centre, library or mall
• Exhibition or competition - art or photography, even a cook-off or demonstration
• Mass meditation or yoga - we call it the big chill!
• Just do it campaign - 'Take an early day' or 'Switch off to sleep' campaign

2015 Walk for Awareness

Registrations for the Mental Health Awareness Foundation’s annual Walk for Awareness are now open. You can register as an individual or a group and improve your mental and physical fitness with a relaxing Sunday morning walk around Brisbane’s winding river and beautiful scenery, crossing one of Brisbane’s finest landmarks, the Story Bridge. It’s all to raise awareness of mental health and suicide prevention and spread the message ‘Ask a mate, before it’s too late’.

Registrations are now open — go to www.walkforawareness2015.com.au. Like and share on Facebook.

Sponsorship – Opportunities are still available. Please contact MAF by email or call Tudor Vasile on 0417 076 578.

Absolutely Everybody Loves Broadway

To celebrate the benefits of singing and the performing arts to our mental health, the School of Hard Knocks will present a concert featuring the fabulous Absolutely Everybody choir as one of the major events for QMHW15.

The event brings together leading solo artists, the Absolutely Everybody choir and a massed choir of community singers from across South East Queensland.

Don’t miss it. At the Queensland Performing Arts Centre Concert Hall, Friday 9 October 2015 at 8.00pm.

Show your support — small sponsorship packages are still available. Contact Susan Gilmartin on 0417 075 053 or via email: Susan.Gilmartin@schoolofhardknocks.org.au

Sector News

Queensland Alliance for Mental Health has a new CEO, Kris Trott. Kris has worked with a diverse range of not-for-profit organisations including in the health sector and her passion for quality whole-of-life mental health supports has been driven by family experience.

We welcome her drive and expertise as a leader of community mental health, and look forward to working with her on shaping research, policy and reforms that deliver better outcomes for people experiencing mental health difficulties.

Grants

• Gambling Community Benefit Fund provides grants up to $35,000 to not-for-profit community groups in Queensland. The funding program is now open and closes 31 August 2015.
• Brisbane City Council Community Support Funding Program offers financial assistance to community groups facing financial hardships and providers of affordable housing in Brisbane. The program is now open.

Resources

• Black Dog Institute ‘Mens Health Study’ results released. For the first time, researchers identify what causes and contributes to suicidality in Australian men.
• The National Framework for action to prevent alcohol-related family violence has been released by the Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE). The Framework proposes policies and programs for all Australian Governments to implement, and to examine why action must be taken to prevent alcohol related family violence.
• Practice resource ‘Working with women engaged in alcohol and other drug treatment’ has been released by NADA.
• My AOD Prevention – a new online resource for AOD workers launched by Drug Arm Australasia. Register at My AOD Prevention. 

Events

• 12-14 August 2015 16th International Mental Health Conference – Gold Coast. The conference theme is ‘Mental Health Future For All’.
• 13-14 August 2015 Australian Youth AOD Conference – Melbourne. This conference is for workers who are interested in the best possible care for young people experiencing drug and alcohol problems.
• 13-14 August 2015 National Acquired Brain Injury Conference – Melbourne.
• 17 August 2015 QCOSS Marginalised Queenslanders influencing public policy workshop – Brisbane. A day-long workshop to provide valuable insight into how marginalised Queenslanders can influence public policy from a number of different perspectives.
• 18 & 19 August 2015 ASCA Working with Adult Survivors of Complex Trauma — One day professional development training at the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. Register now.
• 25-28 August 2015 TheMHS Conference & PreConference Forums & Workshops – The full program has now been released and features keynote speakers Pat Corrigan, Pat Dudgeon and Joe Parks.
• 28 August 2015 CheckUP Health Leaders' Forum – theme is "Primary Health Care: Making It Happen". Register now.
• 28 August 2015 Micah Projects Moonlight Magic Dinner Dance – Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre. Book your tickets.
• 4 September 2015 Generation Next The Mental Health and Wellbeing of Young People – Gold Coast. Register now.
• 11-12 September 2015 PTSD Forum 2015 — Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. Register today.
• 14 September 2015 Disability Action Week Advocacy Forum and Workshop – Queensland Advocacy Incorporated invites people with disability or family members from Queensland to come to this event to be part of the change that can improve the lives of many people with disability.
• 28-30 September 2015 2015 National Indigenous Men’s and Women’s Network Conference – Darwin.
• 4-11 October 2015 Queensland Mental Health Week – Get involved and host your own event or attend another event.
• 13-14 October 2015 QCOSS State Conference ‘Individuals building thriving communities’ – Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.

Give your feedback

Take five minutes to give us your feedback! Evaluate the:

• 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