Category Archives: Media

Register Your walk with Lifeline to Observe World Suicide Prevention Day 10 September 2021

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Turn out in September
Be ready to walk
Let’s show the world
We’re more than talk
W T Herring, a farmer from Broken Hill, helpseeker
Friday, September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day. Since 2012, Lifeline has been observing this day through our Out of the Shadows campaign.
This year, Out of the Shadows will again unite local Lifeline centres and individuals across Australia for a significant walk at sunrise and to remember and reflect on the nine lives lost to suicide in Australia every day.
Most importantly we’ll walk in solidarity to support those impacted by suicide; working together to create change and bring suicide out of the darkness and into the light. Will you join us?
Face to face or virtual – we can still walk as one.
Whilst COVID-19 continues to impact Australia this year, it is more important than ever to connect.  We can still unite at the same time on the same day to send a collective message of hope.
Lifeline centres will host face to face walks where possible and in accordance with state-based restrictions.  Join your local Lifeline centre’s Out of the Shadows community walk or register your own.
Set your alarm, put your shoes by the front door and take a walk on your own, with a friend (or a small group) and know that likeminded members of the community will be doing the same thing a couple of streets down, or the next town along.
Will you walk with us? We ask you to help us send the clearest message of HOPE yet to those who are struggling with the impacts of suicide.

Together we can ensure no person in Australia has to face their darkest moments alone.

 

Thank you.

Naomi Van Anen
Community Fundraising Executive, Lifeline Australia
On behalf of the Lifeline Network
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If you or someone you know needs crisis support,
please call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or visit lifeline.org.au/gethelp
If life is in danger, please call 000
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Lifeline Australia

A Message from Heidi Everett, Producer and Film Director August 2021

Hi friends interested in mental health and/or the arts,
I’m very pleased to share with you my latest arts project around mental health and advocacy, ‘Qualia *Original’ short film. It’s been a long time coming thanks to ‘covidity cancel culture’. 
This is a short film capturing the mood of Australia’s psychiatric system, through the eyes of three diverse people.
Qualia film isn’t about the usual desperate conversation around beds or illness prevention, but makes a clear statement about access and dignity that hasn’t been made apparent in mental health and humanity.
Please see link below and happy to chat further over email about any issues raised, or ideas about how we might improve things. I have a feeling the answers to our beleaguered mental health system don’t lie in building more hosptial beds.
 
The artists in the Qualia film are people with living experience of the story they tell:
 
Jessica Cochran, Maggie Toko and Xavier Guault.
 
The filmmaker is Rachel Edward.
 
Thank you,
Heidi Everett
Producer and Qualia Director.
Qualia *Original short film:

Mental Health Victoria Media Monitor

Mental Health Victoria | MHVIC | Peak Body for Mental Health Service Providers

Mental Health Victoria | MHVIC | Peak Body for Mental Health Service Providers

Mental Health Victoria Media Monitor

WEEK ENDING FRIDAY 6 AUGUST 2021
Free articles

Advocates call for change as social housing crisis reaches new heights [Pro Bono]

Australians are 3 times more worried about climate change than COVID. A mental health crisis is looming [The Conversation]

Lifeline records highest daily number of calls ever amid lockdowns [The Mercury]

Simone Biles receives praise for prioritising her mental health [The Guardian]

Supporting the mental health of the entire community [The Standard]

‘Terrifying, cold and a lot of loud noises’: Homeless young people falling through safety net [The Age]

‘You think they have got it all’: Worrying surge in alcohol callouts to Victorian homes [Sydney Morning Herald]

https://www.mhvic.org.au/media-monitor

Australia’s first women-only mental health hospital

THE AGE

Australia’s first women-only mental health hospital will tackle soaring rates of illness

By Wendy Tuohy
Sharon Sherwood, Cabrini’s chief of mental health and outreach services (left), and Cabrini chief executive Sue Williams.The Lisa Thurin Women’s Health Centre will operate from an Elsternwick property already owned by Cabrini.

Sharon Sherwood, Cabrini’s chief of mental health and outreach services, said feeling at risk in mixed wards was causing women to miss out on urgently-required medical care.

Click on this link to read the complete article:

Stonnington Disability and Access Committee Film Screening 31 July 2021

Please join us in launching the very first Disability Forum-Film screening in partnership with Council’s Stonnington Disability and Access Committee.

Compelling and authentic. Two women on the opposite side of diagnosis, True Vision is an exploration of dealing with unexpected obstacles, and the perceptions that go hand in hand with diagnosis and disability. The film is written, directed and produced by documentary filmmaker Diana Fisk and executive produced by award-winning feature film and documentary producer Sue Maslin.

This special event includes a screening of the film (28 minutes) and a panel discussion facilitated by the fabulous Carly Findlay OAM, disability advocate and Australian writer. We will hear filmmaker and mother Diana Fisk, Australian Paralympian Jessica Gallagher, who both feature in the film and members from Councils Stonnington Disability and Access Committee.

When: Saturday 31 July, 2:00pm-4:00pm

Where: Malvern Banquet Hall.  In event of COVID-19 restrictions the event will be moved on-line.

The session is free, and registration is essential. Book here.

For further information contact 8290 1333 or access@stonnington.vic.gov.au

Please register your interest and share with friends, colleagues and networks.  We hope to see you there!

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/stonnington-disability-and-access-committee-forum-film-screening-tickets-158675910921

Archie Roach – Tell me Why

 

Hello from the Drum Theatre

We had the honour of presenting a wonderful show by the legendary Aboriginal musician, Archie Roach last Friday night to an almost full theatre. We know many people cannot get to the theatre for various reasons and we have been fortunate to secure a special filmed version of Archie’s show, about his life and music, that we would love to share with you. Below is a link to the film, with closed captions and a link to an audio described version. The video can be accessed between 1pm Friday 14 May – 1pm Sunday 16 May, for free and as often as you like.

Here’s a bit about the show:

Archie Roach – Tell me Why

Archie shares stories and songs from his new memoir and companion album in this special Reconciliation Week event.

Not many have lived as many lives – from stolen child, teenage alcoholic, seeker, lover, father, musical and lyrical genius, to social advocate and First Nations leader – but it took almost a lifetime to find who he really was.

His new memoir ‘Tell Me Why’ is an intimate, moving and often confronting account of his resilience and strength of spirit, and also of a great love story. It’s an extraordinary odyssey of love and heartbreak, family and community, survival and renewal – and the healing power of music.

The companion album ‘Tell Me Why’ re-imagines eleven songs which have defined his extraordinary career, together with brand new songs and recordings.

Roach voices the joy, pain and hope he found on his path through these songs to become the legendary singer- songwriter and storyteller that he is today – beloved and respected by fans worldwide.

Duration: 83 minutes

Review:
“He condensed those emotions of the Stolen Generations into a few minutes of music that stands as one of the great Australian humanitarian artistic statements.” The Australian

How to watch the online concert
The button below will become active from Friday 14 May, 1pm to Sunday 16 May, 1pm

Watch the Virtual Concert
https://vimeo.com/546283772/6c6d185bf2
or copy this link to your website browser during this period: https://vimeo.com/546283772/6c6d185bf2

(Audio Described version): https://vimeo.com/regionalartsvic/archie-roach-ad

If you have any problems with the link, please contact the Box Office on 8571 1666 between 10am and 4pm, Monday-Friday.

We hope you enjoy this concert. If there is a group of you watching, please drop us a line to let us know how many in your watch party. We look forward to hearing from you drumtheatre@cgd.vic.gov.au

 If you want to stay up to date with what’s happening at the Drum Theatre you can subscribe to our enewsletter or like us on facebook.

Kind regards,

 Susan Strano

Coordinator, Drum Theatre, City of Greater Dandenong
Phone: 03 8571 1623 | Mobile: 0413 135 446

 

Creative Control inspired by the International Day for People with Disability 2020

Program

Creative Control presents a digital showcase of work by artists, writers and creatives with disability, inspired by the International Day for People with Disability 2020 theme, seeing the ability in disability.

Creative Control features a series of events and experiences including a virtual exhibition, panel discussion, workshops and film showcase across seven days from 3-10 December 2020.

View the full program below.

https://idpwd.bsl.org.au/full-program

Tandem eNews 24 November 2020

Productivity Commission logo

Tandem response: Productivity Commission’s mental health report

Tandem CEO Marie Piu welcomed the release of the long-awaited final report on Mental Health released by the Australian Productivity Commission.

Marie stated that on behalf of Tandem Members, the family and friends in mental health, she “felt relieved that Australian Health Ministers have embraced the concept of the personal recovery of an individual within their family, carer, community and cultural context, rather than a narrow focus on clinical recovery”.

She went on to welcome Recommendation 18 – Support for Families and Carers – and said: “We particularly support the call for the Australian Government to amend the Medicare Benefits Schedule to provide rebates for family and carer consultations.”

“We also welcome the call for the Australian Government department of Social Services to evaluate outcomes achieved for mental health carers from its carer support program (Action 18.2)”.

“We strongly agree with Action 18.3 that the Australian Government should amend the eligibility criteria for the Carer Payment and Carer Allowance to reduce barriers to access for mental health carers.”

Marie stated that as the Victorian member of Mental Health Carers Australia, the national peak body representing the voice of family and friends (carers) in mental health, “Tandem particularly welcomes the recommendation from the Productivity Commission Inquiry into Mental Health for lived experience representation at a national level. While the report acknowledged there are already various state and national organisations which advocate for mental health consumers and carers, it specifically noted the importance of these voices being acknowledged and heard as separate.”

Marie noted that the work of Mental Health Carers Australia is not currently funded by the Commonwealth Government but is funded by contributions made by member organisations around Australia such as Tandem, limiting the scope and ability to operate as a true peak.

Read the summary from a family and friends in mental health perspective in Victoria prepared by the Tandem team at our website. 

Read the Productivity Commission’s report on their website.
Read Tandem’s response

Peridot Theatre Play Readings

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Next Social Play Reading: Thursday October 29th, 7:30 pmThis reading will feature four different short plays.There will be two plays entitled Ready to Go from the CJSP (Creative Juice Stimulus Package) group. Each play started with one page already written and two writing groups (streams) per play. Each writer was to write around 1-2 pages, then pass it on to the next writer to add their contribution: so much fun and very difficult at the same time, as you can imagine! We will read two different versions of the same one page starter. 2 M/F in each.

Family Happens by Jonne Finnemore

Synopsis: Back in the 1940s/50s PTSD was not recognised and families had to struggle with it without help. Mother and Dad always host Christmas Day. This time, events take a tragic turn. 2 M, 3 F

Last year, Jonne celebrated 70 years of theatre, first in South Africa, then England and now in Australia, performing in dramas, comedies, musicals and reviews. These days, she’s turned her hand to writing. Family Happens won first prize in the 2019 National Playwright Competition.

Wormholes by Alison Knight

Synopsis: A Shakespearian actor takes his revenge from beyond the grave – with help from an unexpected source. I M, 1 F, 1 M or F.
Alison_heads*hot

Alison’s work has been performed with Melbourne Writers’ Theatre, Peridot and Hartwell theatre companies, and in the 1812 Board Shorts, Bendigo’s Tenx10 series, the Madwomen Monologues and the Legends of the Skies. In 2019, she won Best Playwright Award at the Monash OAP Festival, while another play appeared in the UNESCO City of Literature Festival (Dunedin). Alison has gained a number of prizes and commendations for her short stories, several of which have been published. She has also written two novels, Peter Stone and The Close.

You’re welcome to participate in the reading as either performer or as an audience member. If you wish to express an interest in reading, please contact Robyn Kelly at robynperidot@yahoo.com.au.

Scripts are available to download http://bit.ly/peridotscripts (‘October 29th’ folder)

Zoom Invitation:

Topic: Social Play Reading – Thursday

Time: Oct 29, 2020 7:30 PM Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87013924000?pwd=NjVQbjh2WHhHNUVKVkhSTDJoeENnQT09

Meeting ID: 870 1392 4000

Passcode: Readings

 

Sponsors: 13Cabs, Foodworks, Jellis Craig Foundation

 

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
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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).

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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.