WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY
10 OCTOBER
World Mental Health Day (WMHD) is an initiative of the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH) and is co-sponsored by the World Health Organisation (WHO). WMHD takes place on 10 October each year, and within Australia WMHD coincides with National Mental Health Week. The MHCA is responsible for organising the launch of World Mental Health Day in Australia every year. World Mental Health Day 2007 – An Overview Building Awareness-Reducing Risk:
Mental Health in a Changing World: The Impact of Culture and Diversity was The World Federation for Mental Health’s campaign for World Mental Health Day (WMHD) 2007.
The World Federation for Mental Health sets the theme each year and provides valuable resources and information. This year their campaign material was based around highlighting how culture directly affects mental health and how it plays a significant role in wellbeing.
Partnership with MMHA The MHCA and Multicultural Mental Health Australia (MMHA) worked closely together to promote WMHD 2007. The two peak bodies began planning early in the year and decided to make this year’s event a celebration of diversity and culture and aimed to make the launch a positive, uplifting experience focussing on the achievements made to date.
MMHA ran a National Multicultural Art Competition 2007 as part of Mental Health Week. The Art Competition was open to people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds who have migrated to Australia.
As MMHA brought to the fore, art is a valuable way of exploring identity and developing a language of exchange that can foster harmony and diversity both within and between cultures. Participants in the National Multicultural Art Competition 2007 had a unique opportunity to reflect and celebrate their identity and all that encompasses.
The partnership between the MHCA and MMHA is an ongoing one and it is envisaged that the two peaks will work on future projects and World Mental Health Day activities.
The MHCA invited MMHA to use World Mental Health Day as an opportunity to present the awards to the winners of its art competition. The MHCA flew one of the winners down to Canberra for the event.
MMHA and MHCA worked together in coordinating a special art exhibition of the original artworks from the competition and displayed these around the venue during the launch of WMHD.
MMHA also used the event to launch its series of multilingual mental health fact sheets.
Other partnerships The MHCA was also supported by the Australian Federal Police (AFP), in particular their Missing Persons Unit. The AFP and the MHCA have been working together to promote awareness of mental health and missing persons. The participation of the AFP signalled a new direction for the MHCA, and has set the groundwork for continued close involvement in matters of concern to both organisations. MMHA invited CALD mental health consumer, Claudio Silva, to address the gathering about his personal experience of living on the streets as a missing person. This special address added to the AFP’s awareness campaign.
Telstra continued to be a major supporter of WMHD. Telstra commissioned special posters, banners and displays based on the MHCA design and promoted the Day/Week of events across Australia.
WMHD was also promoted by key Commonwealth agencies; in particular the Department of Health and Ageing, CRS Australia, Medicare Australia and FaCSIA.
Promotional Material This year, the Council focussed on providing a range of promotional material to stakeholders.
The MHCA and MMHA created a series of 5 WMHD Fact Sheets covering the following topics:
The MHCA printed over 15,000 Fact Sheets, which were distributed to stakeholders, government departments, NGOs, school and educational institutions
Additionally, special posters (in A2 and A3 formats), which featured World Mental Health Day in numerous languages, were distributed. The translations were coordinated by MMHA and featured 20 languages. These bright and engaging posters were widely praised. The MHCA printed over 6000 posters, and they were displayed in every state and territory.
The MHCA created a WMHD ‘Kit’ comprising posters, fact sheets, magnets, balloons and Act-Belong-Commit mental health promotional material.
MMHA, in conjunction with the Department of Health and Ageing, translated the WMHD 2007 Fact Sheets into over 20 different languages. These Fact Sheets were professionally designed in a fold out format and, as with the English language versions, were very well received by stakeholders and those in the mental health sector.
10 October – launch The official launch of WMHD 2007 took place at the National Museum of Australia (Peninsula Room).
Mr David Crosbie, Chief Executive Officer of the MHCA was the Master of Ceremonies. The event was arranged to combine a mixture of speeches, awards and entertainment. Over 130 invited guests attended the launch, well up from previous years, including members of Multicultural Mental Health Australia, Members of the ACT Legislative Assembly, Staff from Department of Health and Ageing, representatives from the Australian Federal Police, CRS Australia, Representatives from the pharmaceutical industry and many consumers and carers. David Crosbie told the audience, “Australia is known throughout the world as one of the world’s most culturally diverse nations. There are over 200 ethnic communities here, and according to the last Census, nearly a quarter of our population was born overseas.
“While Australia can be an open, friendly and inviting society with a vibrant culture, a significant number of migrants to Australia come from countries affected by famine, war, terrorism or persecution. For some people, migration involves trauma, leaving behind their families, cultures, traditions and religious networks.
“Studies have shown that a sizeable number of migrants to Australia – including their families and carers – do not seek help for their mental illness. They are amongst the most vulnerable to the effects of mental illness, often living in isolation from the general community.
“Too many people face barriers in accessing mental health services, including language and cultural difficulties as well as overcoming the stigma associated with their mental illness. Many migrants not only struggle with a lack of knowledge about available services, but also have to contend with a lack of culturally appropriate services and lack of translated material on mental health issues.
“For some migrants, arriving in Australia brings with it a ‘culture shock’ which can negatively impact on an individuals mental health. The World Health Organisation (WHO), for example, estimates that more than 50 per cent of migrants worldwide have a mental health problem, ranging from chronic mental disorders to trauma and distress.
“I am pleased to say that the issue of mental health and cultural diversity is increasingly well understood. Today’s ceremony will highlight some new initiatives aimed at further understanding and addressing the problem.
“The MHCA is therefore delighted to be associated with World Mental Health Day today and the particular theme of culture and diversity and mental health.”
Guest speaker: CALD mental health Consumer, Claudio Silva
Guest speaker: Senator Brett Mason, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Ageing
Guest speaker: Mr Abd Malak - Chairman of MMHA consortium, Multicultural Mental Health Australia
Guest speaker: Ray Johnson, Australian Federal Police (AFP)
David Crosbie concluded with these comments: “I would like to conclude today’s proceedings by saying a few words about the thousands of Australians who work in mental health services and programs.
“There has been a significant progress in mental health – especially through the COAG initiatives; however there are still many service gaps and many people unable to access early diagnosis and appropriate care. We know that mental health services across Australia are under constant and growing pressure.
“Mental health relies on very committed and dedicated people – the carers, the families, the mental health professionals, the researchers and the advocates. Psychiatrists, psychologists, nurses, allied health professionals and others struggle each day to provide the best care possible in a very difficult working environment.
“These dedicated professionals are attracted to work in mental health because they believe they can make a difference to peoples’ lives. In launching World Mental Health Day 2007, I want to acknowledge the professionalism and dedication of all the people working the mental health sector and thank them for the work they do.”
WMHD 2007 concluded with some wonderful musical entertainment Hoza, a Canberra band that draws its inspiration on the traditional and infectious rhythms from across the African continent. Deriving its meaning from the Ndebele language of south-western Zimbabwe, HOZA, which simply means "Come and join in”, is a 6-piece ensemble that showcases the breath and vibrancy of African music. HOZA blends the popular street sounds of Soweto with the talking guitar sounds of central Africa along with the rhythmic, percussive sounds of west and equatorial Africa. HOZA continues to play their ever expanding African music repertoire to highly appreciative audiences from all walks of life in and around Canberra.
Launch of World Mental Health Day (WMHD) 2006 Building Awareness – Reducing Risk: Mental Illness and Suicide Tuesday Oct 10 at 11.00 am, Mural Hall, Parliament House Canberra
The producer and presenter of the ABC’s Health Report, Dr Norman Swan will officiate WMHD. Dr Swan is a multi-award winning producer and broadcaster and is highly regarded by the medical and health professions. The Hon. Rob Knowles (MHCA Chair), Professor Ian Hickie (Professor of Psychiatry and Executive Director, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Uni of Sydney) and Ms Dawn Smith (CEO of Lifeline Australia Inc. and MHCA Deputy Chair) will discuss suicide awareness and the positive initiatives being undertaken to target those groups most at risk; as well as highlighting the successful strategies and programs which have reduced suicide. A feature of the launch will be highlights from the current exhibition entitled For Matthew and Others, Journeys with Schizophrenia, currently showing at the Campbelltown Arts Centre.
Geraldine Quinn's speech to launch World Mental Health Day
Parliamentary Breakfast, Wednesday Oct 11, 7.30 am, Parliament House Dining Room Hosted by Senator the Hon. Helen Coonan, Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, the breakfast is about raising awareness of mental health and art. The feature of this event will be the screening of the winning Hope Awards film. The Hope Awards competition is designed to encourage the creation of more accurate and optimistic representations of experience with mental illness. Speakers will include Senator Coonan, the Hon. Rob Knowles (MHCA Chair) and David Grainger (Director of Corporate Affairs & Health Economics, Eli Lilly).
Launch of Smart Services – Innovative Models of Mental Health Care in Australia and Overseas. Wednesday Oct 11, 10.45 am. Room 1R6, Parliament House Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing, the Hon. Christopher Pyne MP, will launch Smart Services – a report that focuses on the importance of integrated community support services for people with a mental illness. Australians have made it clear they want and need access to quality mental health care, both clinical and non-clinical services before a mental illness becomes acute and hospitalisation is unavoidable. Smart Services explains how to make effective community mental health care a reality. The Smart Services report should help shape the next key phase of debate about the role and nature of community supported recovery services in ending Australia’s mental health crisis. The Report is timely as it should guide new and effective investment in mental health services emanating from the new National Action Plan for Mental Health developed at the Council of Australian Governments (CoAG) meeting of July 2006.
Launch of Mental Health First Aid CD ROM, Thursday Oct 12, 10.00 am, Mural Hall This launch, in conjunction with DEWR, is designed to raise awareness of mental health first aid in the workplace. This is a positive ‘good news’ story that shows how industry, government and the mental health sector can provide valuable and important services to improve the working environment for those with mental health problems. Speakers will include Minister Sharman Stone and Mr John Mendoza (CEO, MHCA). DEWR will provide copies of the CD ROM on the day.
Throughout 2006 the MHCA will continue to promote its national campaign |
