Invitation from Heidi Everett to a Zoom Event 

Invitation from Heidi Everett to a Zoom event
Dear all creatives and miscreants,

I'm pleased to be inviting everyone to the next Schizy Speaks event, bang on trend for World Mental Health Day 2020.
for World Mental Health Day 2020.
This'll be a doozy!

Sandy Jeffs speaks to moi, Heidi Everett.

Zoom event.
Friday 9th October 2pm AEST / 12pm WA.
Register for link: schizyinc@gmail.com
Or reply directly to this email.
Don't miss it, because if you do, you won't know.
Heidi
Schizy Inc
Picture

Picture

Sandy Jeffs is an author born in Ballarat and has a BA from La Trobe University. She has lived with schizophrenia and all its moods for over thirty years. She is a community educator who speaks to schools, universities and community groups about what it’s like to live with a mental illness.

Sandy is the author of the bestselling Poems from the Madhouse (1993; reprinted 2000, 2001), Loose Kangaroos (co-author, 1998), Blood Relations (2000), Confessions of a Midweek Lady: Tall Tennis Tales (2001), and The Wings of Angels: A memoir of madness (2004), her autobiography, Flying with Paper Wings: Reflections on Living With Madness (2009), The Mad Poet’s Tea Party (2015) and Chiaroscuro (2015).

Picture

Sandy Jeffs’ recent book ‘Out of the Madhouse: From Asylums to Caring Community?’ explores Larundel through the voices of former inmates and staff, exposing the best and worst aspects of the mental institutions of the times.

Alfred Health Carer Services Carer e-News 28 September 2020

Free Online Events for Carers

We are pleased to present Alfred Health Carer Services online events program for September to November. The program includes a variety of workshops and activities you can do right in the comfort of your home. You will need a smart phone or computer with internet to access these classes.

Please note: Some RSVP dates for events are today! 

If you do not have this technology, please contact the Events team on 9076 6644 to find out how you can be involved.

Download events program

Express your interest online

Express your interest to the events team on 9076 6644.
See the events program for more information.

https://mailchi.mp/b0fe7d909911/free-online-events-for-carers-6453892?e=8f7e3a8626

theMHS Learning Network invitation to join a free interactive webinar

Featuring Patrick McGorry and hosted by ABC science journalist Natasha Mitchell (founding presenter and producer of All in the Mind, now of Science Friction).

Join us for a constructive conversation following the recent ‘ABC Four Corners’ programme about the system’s current approach to those with complex mental health issues.

In this free, interactive webinar expect the consumer and carer voices to be at the forefront of a conversation that challenges our current models of care.

Featuring, Patrick McGorry AO, Paula Hanlon, Lisa Sweeney and Simon Stafrace, this webinar brings together perspectives from lived experience, an evidence-based approach, and service development and provision.

Be part of this conversation!

REGISTER

Send in your questions to Natasha and the panel during this dynamic webinar!

Head to Help

Stressed out? Feeling helpless? Help is here.

HeadtoHelp supports Victorians of all ages. Take the first steps towards finding the mental health and wellbeing support that’s best for you.

If your mental health is suffering because of the current pandemic, call HeadtoHelp now.

Now is the time to reach out, even if you’ve never felt like this or asked for help before.

The sooner you talk about your mental health, the sooner you’ll get the help and support you need, to help you move forward and feel stronger.

It couldn’t be easier. A trained professional will take your call, give you advice, and if you need it, connect you to a free HeadtoHelp hub or help you find the support that suits your needs.

1800 595 212 (free call)
This is not a crisis service. See below for urgent help.
8.30am – 5pm Monday – Friday

Urgent support

LifeLine 13 11 14

MensLine 1300 789 978

Beyond Blue – Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service 1800 512 348

SuicideLine 1300 651 251

Find HeadtoHelp Hub locations
Find out more here

https://headtohelp.org.au/

Tandem eNews 15 September 2020

Tandem Time this Thursday at 10am

At our next Tandem Time session this Thursday 17 September at 10am, we will be joined by guest presenter Jagjit Dhaliwal, Executive Director, Service Development and Reform, North Western Melbourne PHN, who will provide an overview and answer any of your questions regarding the new ‘Head to Help’ mental health clinics.

TandemTime is our regular twice monthly online/phone meet-up for Tandem members and staff to connect with each other, ask questions and stay in touch.

When you register to attend you will be sent a link that will enable you to login to the meeting at the allotted time and telephone numbers if you prefer to dial in using a telephone.

  • Day: Thursday 17 September
  • Time: 10am – 11am
  • Where: online via Zoom or telephone

If you have any feedback, reflections or questions you would like to ask, please send them to info@tandemcarers.org.au Register for Tandem Time

New ‘HeadtoHelp’ services open

Victorians now have access to additional mental health support with 15 new dedicated mental health clinics opening to the public. The HeadToHelp clinics, which are funded for $26.9 million as part of a package to support Victorians during the COVID-19 pandemic, have been rapidly rolled out across the state. Nine locations in Greater Melbourne are: Berwick, Frankston, Officer, Hawthorn, Yarra Junction, West Heidelberg, Broadmeadows, Wyndham Vale, and Brunswick East. Six locations in Regional Victoria are: Warragul, Sale, Bendigo, Wodonga, Sebastopol and Norlane.

HeadtoHelp clinics are a free service and, over the next 12 months, will provide a place within the community for people to access mental health care as early and as conveniently as possible. Multidisciplinary teams will staff the clinics, providing on-site mental health support, as well as connecting people to other services in their region. The clinics will play a key role in supporting GPs, emergency departments and hospitals by providing easily accessible mental health care. The clinics are being delivered by the Commonwealth Government’s Primary Health Networks (PHNs).

An additional $5 million in funding is also being provided to enhance existing digital and phone services for people experiencing significant challenges during COVID-19 restrictions in Victoria.

More information and the address locations can be viewed here. The Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt’s press conference with Dr Ruth Vine, Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Mental Health, regarding the clinics can be watched here. You can also visit headtohelp.org.au.

You can access the complete newsletter via the link below:

https://mailchi.mp/84d167f8b2ac/dfxn4oqrm0-3918928?e=34088e3417

Alfred Health Carer Services eNews September 2020

Alfred Health Carer Services
Carers Week 2020

Save the dates 11th-17th October

Featuring “My Mornings Matter”, carers will be encouraged to take some time every morning of Carers Week to enjoy a laughter workshop, Qigong, a singalong and much more.
Keep an eye out out for our email for more information coming soon or keep checking on our website Click here

In home testing for COVID 19 now available

The Department of Health and Human Services is assisting vulnerable Victorians in metropolitan Melbourne to access a COVID-19 test from their own home to help slow the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

Visit their website here to find out more.

You can access the complete newsletter via the link below:

https://mailchi.mp/88cbea49160e/carer-south-june-enews-6450180?e=8f7e3a8626

Update from the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System Spring 2020

2020 witness statements

“The witness statements build on the huge amount of information the Commission has received, through consultations, submissions and last year’s public hearings. More than 130 statements have been published so far and I encourage you to visit our website to read them and to learn more about our themes of inquiry.”

Final report

In late May, the Victorian Government announced a three-month extension to the Commission, due to the pandemic and its impact on the ability of individuals, service providers, and other organisations to contribute to our work.

Our final report is now due to be delivered by 5 February 2021.

We’re at a critical phase of our deliberations, as we examine the huge amount of evidence gathered through witness statements, submissions, community consultations, surveys, research, stakeholder meetings, and a substantial program of focus groups.

All of these inputs will help us shape our final recommendations for change. Our final report will set out an ambitious blueprint for transforming Victoria’s mental health system, including the design of central elements of a future mental health system.

Stay up to date

To stay up to date with the latest activity, please follow the Commission on Twitter @RCMentalHealth

Penny Armytage AM
Chair, Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System

You can read the complete update via the link below:

https://mailchi.mp/544aa2c85961/royal-commission-into-victorias-mental-health-system-spring-update?e=64d8f6c145

Carer and consumer contributions to be included in an ISFAF book

Dear Carers
Please let me know if you would like to contribute – an article, poem, illustration, photograph, puzzle or any other contribution that would fit in a book, be nontoxic, serious or humorous (or both) and be from YOUR heart.
This is an opportunity to let the world know a little about you / how you feel. You can write in your own name or borrow one from the Martian phone book.
This is going to be a long-term project, but we need to have indications of interest now.
Best wishes
Judi
0425 723 746
You can access information about an online writing course held by Discovery College via this link:

VMIAC Newsletter 11 September 2020

 

With everyone in Victoria experiencing greater isolation then normal, it is more important than ever to check in with yourself and loved ones. If you have lived experience of mental health or emotional distress and are also having trouble coping during COVID-19, contact our peer support workers through our CHECK-IN connection and support program. Find out more here!
CHECK-IN is not a crisis service. If you, or someone you know is in crisis, please call Lifeline or Beyond Blue.

We never talk about how valuable our lived experience can be to others. This mental health week we want to change that. From the 10th-18th October, we will be showcasing consumers’ contributions to community, both big and small. If you are interested in sharing your contributions, head over to our website to find out more!

La Trobe University are seeking volunteers for a study about mental health nurses. This survey is open to those with a lived experience of mental health issues as well as those working within the mental health space. Click here to find out more!

You can access the complete newsletter via the link below:

https://mailchi.mp/ee16c04f8c50/vmiac-weekly-newsletter-8303270?e=2c7451582a

Community Program Newsletter August 2020

Changes to PARC  (Prevention and Recovery Care)
As many of you know, Alfred Health and Wellways have worked in partnership to deliver the South Yarra PARC program for many years now and we would like to announce a change in provider partner. From the 14 September, Ermha365 will be the new partner with Alfred Health at South Yarra PARC and we look forward to delivering a high quality, contemporary and dynamic program for consumers and carers. Ermha365 have an excellent reputation in the delivery of individualised PARC programs that collaborate closely with their clinical partners throughout Victoria. The PARC clinical team are excited for the coming transition. At 5pm on the 11 September, PARC will close for a period of 2 weeks for handover, orientation, training and some on site refreshment and maintenance, reopening for business on Monday 28 September. This means we will begin winding down intake over the coming weeks with the final entries in the program being around the 28 August for 2-week stays. Communication to current and previous PARC Participants about the change in provider and disruption to service will be distributed via mail in the coming weeks. Alfred Health would like to thank Wellways for the years of commitment to the South Yarra PARC program and we look forward to further opportunities to collaborate in the future.

Eloise Scott Senior Clinician, South Yarra PARC

PARC is a short term program that provides support, care and treatment –average stay is 2 weeks but can be up to 28 days.

Free 24/7 Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service
Beyond Blue has developed a service to address the growing mental health impact of the pandemic, including fear about the virus, financial stress, business closure, family stress, anxiety and loneliness. The service offers easy access to a broad range of practical supports from online wellbeing tips, self-help tools to phone counselling from trained mental health professionals and peer to peer support.

coronavirus.beyondblue.org.au or via phone on1800 512 348

You can access the complete newsletter via the link below:

Community Program Newsletter August 2020