Author Archives: Inner South

Excerpts from Mental Health Australia Weekly Update 8 September 2023

Lifeline reminds Australians that suicide doesn’t discriminate

In the lead up to this year’s World Suicide Prevention Day (Sunday, 10th September), Lifeline is reminding Australians that suicide can affect everyone and encouraging anyone who is doing it tough to reach out for help through the organisation’s 24/7 phone and digital crisis support services.https://www.lifeline.org.au/resources/news-and-media-releases/media-releases/

Caring for the carers of vulnerable Victorians

More than 60,000 Victorians care for a loved one living with mental illness, and the Andrews Labor Government is giving them the support they need – with new Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect Centres in seven regions now officially open. Delivering on a key recommendation of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System, these services are the first of their kind in Australia, supporting the mental health and quality of life of caregivers when supporting someone with mental health challenges, illness, psychological distress or addiction.

https://www.sarahconnollymp.com.au/media-centre/media-releases/caring-for-the-carers-of-vulnerable-victorians/

Inner South Family and Friends Future Events 2023

EVENTS FOR YOU TO DIARISE

ISFAF Monthly Meetings second  Tuesday of the month.
Speakers who are experts in their field on topics of local and current importance.

Oct 10: World Mental Health Day. A free lunch at 549 St Kilda Road, Melbourne. A busy day for us all. Please email isfaf@alfred.org if you plan to join ISFAF and AMAH staff for a free lunch AND no need to book to join us again in the evening for our monthly meeting with a treat tba

Nov 14: Associate Professor Simon Stafrace, Programme Director, AMAH Current innovations in mental health

Dec 12: Annual End-of-Year Dinner, venue tba

SPECIAL EVENT

Film and lunch in honour of Carers Week details tba

Please review our website regularly for details and updates. https://ispaf.org/

Working together helps everyone
If you have friends who:

are caring for a loved one with serious mental illness and need support, introduce them to ISFAF / ask them to leave a message on 9076 4722  or email isfaf@alfred.org.au or contact Judi directly on 0425 723 746  /  judi.burstyner@gmail.com,

are members of ISFAF but do not receive email and might be interested in our current news, please contact them and pass this message on to them.

We wish to thank:

  • the Victorian Government via Alfred Health Carer Services for their generosity funding the concierge for our monthly meetings and a drink for participants of our Walk and Chats.
  • Alfred Mental and Addiction Health for their continued generous support, including funding functions and providing us with office and facilities and venue for our meetings.

Visit to Justin Art House Museum Sunday 10 September

JUSTIN ART HOUSE MUSEUM

11 am Sunday 10 September

Cnr Lumley Court and Williams Rd Prahran  https://www.jahm.com.au/

Enjoy two concurrent exhibitions and of course, as always – food, friendship, shared experiences, openness and camaraderie at ISFAF events.

  • PAPER: The Permanence of the Temporary is showing in the main gallery, examining the temporal and fragile nature of paper and how this contrasts with the permanence associated with art.
  • JAHM acquisitions, including challenging AI generated paintings, conceptual and media-based art and a range of works offer much food for thought in the upstairs apartment, where we will be offered delicious buffet ‘snacks’ in Charlie and Leah Justin’s delightful home designed by their daughter.
Prompt booking is essential to secure your place. The museum has limited numbers which cannot be extended. Secure places will be allocated strictly in order of receipt of donation to:

1.     To Westpac ISFAF Community BSB 033-169  A/c No: 258307, $8 pensioners, $12 non-pensioners

2.     ensure that your deposit shows your name,

3.     immediately after making the deposit, email isfaf@alfred.org.au  with proof of booking.

4.     Look out for a response email, which you will receive by around 5 September.

5.     If you do not receive confirmation by 5 September, please email: elenikontos@icloud.com.

 

Inner South Family and Friends Carer Support Group Meeting

ISFAF MONTHLY MEETING  7.30PM TUESDAY 12 SEPTEMBER 2023

Speaker: Anne-Marie Skegg, Senior Mental Health Clinician, Emergency Psychiatry , AMA

Topic:       Tricks on Getting Help for you and your Loved One

Venue:       Level Four, Spotless Building, AMAH, 549 St Kilda Road, Melbourne

 a little to the city side of Wesley College, 549 is easily recognizable by white umbrellas in the forecourt.

Lots of free parking in the centre lanes of St Kilda Road, with many trams stopping at the door.

If you are having trouble with transport, seek further information or just need a chat, about ISFAF and/or issues faced by carers please phone: Judi M: 0425 723 746 or Eleni M:  0412 018 722

Please come early to chat and to enjoy delicious food which will be available from 7.10 pm

Due to security needs, we are required to pay a concierge at the door of the building.

Alive National Centre speaking on Haven Homes Long term Housing Support

By ALIVE National Centre

When and where
Date and time
Thu, 24 Aug 2023 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM AEST
Location
Online

About this event

  • 1 hour
    Mobile eTicket

The ALIVE National Centre is proud to present the next instalment of Ready, Set, Translate: The ALIVE Mental Health Research Virtual Café Translation Conversations, on Thursday 24 August, 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM AEST.

The conversation will be hosted by the Next Generation Researcher Network, and will feature Laura Hayes and Nicola Ballenden speaking on the topic Haven Homes – Long-term Housing with Support for People with Significant Mental Health and Wellbeing Concerns.

The Haven Foundation – integrated social housing and support services provide people who have significant mental health and wellbeing concerns with long-term housing and 24/7 support from onsite staff. Mind Australia manages these residences in partnership with community housing provider The Haven Foundation – a subsidiary of Mind. Laura and Nicola will present on some findings around client experience and outcomes, how the model is adapted as it is implemented in different communities, and how the haven communities at each site develop over time.

About the speakers:

Dr Laura Hayes has expertise across a range of psychosocial interventions, such as supported housing, that can underpin recovery. She also has an interest in family and carer inclusion including family psychoeducational approaches supporting consumer and carer wellbeing. Laura has a long term interest in program evaluation and program logic approaches to outcomes mapping. She has driven the design, digitisation and delivery of an outcome measurement initiative across Mind creating evidence for key impacts from Mind services.

Nicola has held senior leadership roles across the not for profit sector, providing research, policy, service development and strategic communications expertise in health, welfare and homelessness organisations including the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine, the Brotherhood of St Laurence and Launch Housing. Earlier in her career, Nicola spent time in policy roles with the Commonwealth Government and the Australian Consumers Association (CHOICE). She is passionate about using research and evidence to measure impact, build better mental health services and to influence the policy process. She has a MA from the University of Melbourne and a Masters in Public Health from the University of New South Wales.

About the organiser

Organised by

ALIVE National Centre

New GP Psychiatry Support Line

 

New GP Psychiatry Support Line

The GP Psychiatry Support Line is a free phone-in service available for GPs to help them manage the mental health care of their patients. GPs can call 1800 16 17 18 to speak directly with a qualified psychiatrist.

Their psychiatrists support GPs with information and advice regarding specific cases or general enquiries. Advice includes but is not limited to:

  • Diagnosis
  • Medication
  • Investigation
  • Treatment pathways and safety planning.

The service is available between 7am and 7pm, (AEST)Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays).

Here are some examples of the topics discussed:

  • Following a traumatic experience, my patient has presented with PTSD.
  • I have a teenage patient showing early signs of suicidal ideation.
  • My patient has a history of opioid abuse and appears to be “Dr Shopping”.
  • I’m seeing a child, whose parents are recently divorced. She is struggling with depression and showing signs of self-harm.
  • My patient’s husband has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. She is using alcohol to help her cope with her anxiety and depression.
  • I have reason to suspect that my patient’s parent is abusing the medication prescribed to her child.
  • My patient has severe anorexia, refuses to eat, and has almost halved their weight.

Please note, the support line is NOT a triage, referral, or emergency service.

Care Finder: Helping people navigate Aged Care

 

Care Finder: Helping people navigate Aged Care

Discover how Care Finder Programs help seniors who can’t access aged care services through Francis’ story.

Following a presentation to an Aged Care Assessment Team,COTA Victoria received a referral from an assessment clinician for Care Finder support to be provided.

COTA Victoria called Francis to advise of their service and to try and determine eligibility. Francis advised that his daughter, although living locally, has limited contact with him and he didn’t feel comfortable asking her for assistance. It was at his daughter’s recommendation that he sell his house and move into his current flat, which he was not happy about.

In liaising with My Aged Care, it was discovered that Francis had additional approvals which he was not accessing, including a pending Home Care Package Level 3 (HCP3) which was to be assigned in 3-6 months, and a continence assessment.

How Care Finder helped Francis:

  • Assistance with My Aged Care paperwork to determine service eligibility
  • Income assessment to provide financial assistance and support
  • Continence nurse
  • Social engagement opportunities
  • Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) for Domestic Assistance and Shopping.

To learn more about the Care Finder Program, visit the SEMPHN website.

Talking Point Free Seminar Series August to November 2023

 

Talking Point – August to November 2023 – save the dates

Talking Point is a regular series of publicly available lectures that aim to inspire, inform and challenge our notions of what we know about addiction and its impact across society. Health and social sector professionals and the general public are all welcome to attend.

16th August 2023, TODAY – 1pm – 2pm
Recovering Assemblages: Unfolding Sociomaterial Relations of Drug Use and Recovery, presented by Dr Aysel Sultan – for details and to register click here 

13th September 2023, 1pm – 2pm
Neuroplastic Wrap: The non-pathologising, ecological alternative to diagnostic labels, presented by Dr Hayley Packham – for details and to register click here

18th October 2023, 1pm – 2pm
Treating trauma & addiction: from innovation to implementation, presented by Associate Professor Shalini Arunogiri – for details and to register click here

15th November 2023, 1pm – 2pm
Young men’s anxiety: The blind spot in men’s mental health and why it matters, presented by Krista Fisher, PhD Candidate Orygen, Centre for Youth Mental Health, The University of Melbourne – for details and to register click here

Talking Point presentations are recorded and available to view on the Turning Point website – click here to view previous Talking Point presentations
If you have enquiries regarding registration
please email tp@turningpoint.org.au or call (03) 8413 8413.