Helpline allows people to access to health information in their language
Healthdirect Australia as launched a new helpline – Multicultural Health Connect which allows people of many cultures access to health information in their language.
In-language help is available by calling 1800 186 815, where callers can speak to an interpreter in their language to:
Find health services such as doctors, hospitals and community health centres
Speak to a nurse for health advice and information
Better understand Australia’s health system, including Medicare and private health insurance
Learn about COVID-19, including managing the disease, COVID-19 vaccines, isolation and close contacts
The helpline is available from 11.30 am–8 pm, 7 days per week.
If your practice would like to order/download resources for the helpline, including brochures in 9 languages, visit Healthdirect’s page, and find the resources under Multicultural Health Connect resources.
Keeping warm this winter
Many people with musculoskeletal conditions feel the cold more keenly with increased joint and muscle pain or lack of blood circulation to the extremities. We look at how you can stay warm and keep the costs down this winter.
Welcome to the monthly newsletter for the Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences at the University of Melbourne. The Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences
PschTalks: Modern life explored by psychology experts We’re excited to announce the release of our new podcast series! PsychTalks: Modern life explored by psychology experts is a nonfiction podcast exploring social psychology and science. Hosted by the award-winning journalist Lynne Malcolm, each episode dives deep into a single thought-provoking issue in modern-day Australia. With the help of experts, we unlock the psychology behind some of society’s most crucial questions — from the effects of fear-based advertising to unravelling the undercurrent of misinformation and conspiracy theories; and from the hype and hope of mindfulness and meditation, to the complex world of big data. Episode 1: Misinformation: why do we fall for it?
Misinformation is being weaponised in the media and politics, and many fall down the conspiracy theory spiral. How do our brains predispose us to believe in misinformation and how is our current information environment – especially social media – aiding the spread of ‘fake news’? How should you approach conversations with people who buy into conspiracy theories?For our first episode, we’re joined by Andrew Perfors (Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Melbourne) and David Milner (editor and columnist at The Shot) for a look down the rabbit hole of misinformation.New episodes will be released fortnightly during May and June 2022. Listen, like and share on your favourite podcast platform:
With so many huge problems in the world, it can be hard as an individual to know how you can help.
To better empower individuals to make a difference to those around them, Pro Bono News has launched How Can I Help?
Hosted by Pro Bono News Editor Wendy Williams, the six-part series features conversations with people with lived experience and practitioners on what we can all do to help in situations that many of us encounter in our lives.
There are a wide range of resources available for anyone affected by gambling across Australia. These services are open to people with a gambling addiction, as well as their friends and families.
How Can I Help? Is a podcast for people who want to help, but don’t know where to start.
Hosted by Pro Bono News editor Wendy Williams, the six-part series features conversations with people with lived experience and experts in the field on what we can do to help in situations that we might encounter at some point in our lives – whether that’s when you see someone sleeping rough, if you think a friend or colleague is in an abusive relationship, or if a family member is suffering from depression.
Hospitals are experiencing significant demand due to COVID-19, so it’s important for community members to stay well.
October through December is thunderstorm asthma season. If your patients have asthma or hay fever (or have had it in the past), now is the time to be ready, so you can manage any symptoms and stay out of hospital.
Community members can protect themselves and those in their care by following these simple steps:
Monitor the epidemic thunderstorm asthma risk forecast on the VicEmergency app.
Don’t be outdoors in a storm, especially the winds that come before them.
Take preventative medication as directed, even when they’re symptom free.
Carry relievers and know how to manage an asthma attack. Follow their asthma action plan or use asthma first aid.
If you or your loved one develops mild asthma symptoms, call NURSE-ON-CALL (1300 60 60 24), see a local doctor, or speak with a pharmacist.
If their condition is urgent, not improving or getting worse, call triple zero (000) or attend hospital.
Supercare pharmacies are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with a free registered nursing service on-site from 6 pm to 10 pm, every day.
Three local Health Networks in the SEMPHN catchment offer Advance Care Planning services. There are several useful online tools as well.What is Advance Care Planning?Advance Care Planning is the process by which individuals discuss their wishes and preferences in regards to their healthcare with their family and health care providers.Advance Care Directives are an individual’s record of these wishes and preferences and are legal documents. Experts in Advance Care Planning recommend that an individual has a Directive to ensure that their wishes and preferences are respected.Benefits of Advance Care Planning:
A person continues to have a say in their medical care, even when they lose that physical or mental capacity
People are comforted knowing they are more likely to receive treatment they want, and not receive the treatment they would not want
Carers and family can make decisions knowing their loved ones choices
The conversation itself can strengthen relationships between family, carers and friends.
People often need help to develop an Advance Care Plan that will guide their medical treatment and care.Health professionals should encourage people to upload their ACPs and Advance Directives to their My Health Record. Instructions are on the My Health Record website.The Department of Health and Human Services provides information and resources.Where is there help for people with Advance Care Planning?The local hospital networks provide Advance Care Planning (ACP) services, which help individuals to write their Advance Care Directive. Individuals can refer themselves, or be referred by a health service.Peninsula Health ACP servicehttps://www.peninsulahealth.org.au/services/services-a-e/advance-care-planning/Alfred Health ACP Servicehttps://www.alfredhealth.org.au/services/advance-care-planningMonash Health ACP Servicehttps://monashhealth.org/services//advance-care-planning/Other help with Advance Care Planning:Useful tools online include:Advance Care Planning Australia
Advance Care Planning Australia is a national program funded by the Australian Government Department of Health, helping people make the best choices for their life and health care.My Values website
The MyValues website is a set of specially constructed statements designed to help people identify, consider and communicate their wishes about the medical treatment they would want in the later stages of life.Planning ahead – Start2Talk
Dementia Australia’s Planning ahead – Start2Talk website provides Advance Care Planning resources and help for people, or carers and health professionals caring for, with dementia.VicHealthWe aim to create a Victoria where everyone can enjoy better health and wellbeing.
Mental illness is one of Australia’s top three leading causes of disease burden, and the largest contributor to the disability burden in Victoria.
With around half of all Australians experiencing mental illness in their lifetime, we want to help reduce inequities related to poor mental wellbeing.
We know that it’s important to intervene early to improve long term outcomes, so we’re working to help improve the mental wellbeing of young Victorians aged 12-25 years by helping them feel more connected to their communities.
Another key focus area is creating a more equitable society for people of all genders, including promoting healthy masculinities and tackling harmful gender stereotypes for young men and boys aged 12-25 years.
We see mental wellbeing as the embodiment of social and emotional wellbeing – not merely the absence of mental illness. Mental wellbeing is a dynamic state in which people are able to develop their potential, work productively and creatively, build positive and respectful relationships with others, and meaningfully contribute to the community.
Click on link below for more information:
https://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au/our-work/improving-mental-wellbeing#Part of the Infoxchange GroupI’ve attached a flyer that summarises what we’re about. Thanks so much for circulating it.I’ve also attached our latest eNewsletter to our NFP members. We can supply you with fully refurbished hardware eg smartphones, laptops, desktops, networking equipment and much more. Please let me know what you’re interested in, the quantity and budget, and I’ll put together some options to choose from. Here’s a link to our product catalogue https://www.connectingup.org/products Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions, or would like to discuss further.Robert Kalka Business Development Manager p: 0415 441 424 e: rk@connectingup.org www.connectingup
Learn new skills online with top educators
Learn 100% online with world-class universities and industry experts. Develop your career, learn a new skill, or pursue your hobbies with flexible online courses.
Beyond Blue fact-checks anxiety and depression treatments
29 Jun 2020
Beyond Blue has released two new booklets designed to help people separate fact from fiction about what really works for managing anxiety and depression.
City of Port Phillip Council is continuing to support the community, particularly our most vulnerable members, during the COVID-19 outbreak by continuing to provide assistance and key services including:
The official monthly newsletter curated by our top staff
Hello everyone
We hope you are all well and staying safe. We are still providing our remote technical support and training at reduced rates whilst in isolation.
For our Home clients, whilst you are in isolation it is a good time to clean up and synchronise your devices, perform a security check and tune up, migrate to the cloud, review your phone and internet plans, or create photo books! We can help you with all of this remotely, so now is a good time to get this done and take advantage of our reduced rates.
For our Small Business Clients, now is a good time to also perform a security audit, review IT systems to ensure efficiency, create a regular security maintenance plan for your business, transform your digital space, upgrade your equipment for greater performance, and review your phone and internet plans – We saved one of our clients $7,000 per annum doing a phone and internet review. You can also take advantage of our reduced remote support rates to get this work done.
In the meantime there are plenty of extra curricula activities for all to take part in whilst in isolation. Here are few we love and wish to share with you to break the ‘groundhog day’ blues.
VISIT AMAZING PLACES AND JOIN ACTIVITIES
FROM THE COMFORT OF YOUR OWN HOME
Here are a sample of the many free activities and places you can visit online from the comfort of your own home. Just click on the names underlined below to open each website. You can access the complete newsletter via the link below: https://mailchi.mp/75941162a1ed/stay-in-touch-byte-size-tips?e=2acca3fa62
JUNE 2020 l VOL 15
DEVICES TO LOAN TO SENIORS – FREE!
Hello everyone
We are pleased to announce that we are able to loan a number of iPads and laptops for FREE to seniors who do not have a device over the next six months, in order to help them stay connected with their family, friends, community and events.
If you have a parent, grandparent, neighbour or friend who qualifies and would benefit from having a free device with internet for 3-6 months, please email us on enquiries@stayintouch.net.au or call our office on 03 9596 4547.
In the meantime please find below some helpful tips we have put together for you.
STORING YOUR PASSWORDS – a tip for everyone!
We highly recommend that you have:
strong passwords of at least 8 characters using a combination of upper case, lower case, numbers and symbols,
different passwords for different accounts,
change them regularly,
where possible enforce 2-step verification – especially for your banking, shopping, email and social media accounts, and
store your passwords in a safe place.
We know this takes time and you are probably wondering where you should store your passwords. Please do not store your passwords in a word document or notes or other file on your devices.
Either do this the old fashioned way – have them written down in an address book. Write the passwords in pencil so you can change them easily when you regularly change your passwords, and store this address book in a safe and secure place away from your devices.
Or use a cloud password keeper such as LastPass, 1password or the password keeper in your antivirus program if your antivirus program provides this feature. If you do use a cloud password keeper, make sure it provides the 2-step verification feature to access all of your passwords.
2-step means when you enter your password, a code is sent to your mobile phone. This code needs to be entered into the log in screen on your device in order to access all of your passwords. If 2-step is on, you need the password and your mobile phone to access your accounts. You can access the complete newsletter via the link below: https://mailchi.mp/1415731e555a/stay-in-touch-byte-size-tips?e=2acca3fa62
ABC NEWS Healthy foods can help prevent and treat depression
Without effective treatment, the condition can make it difficult to work and maintain relationships with family and friends.
Depression can cause sleep problems, difficulty concentrating, and a lack of interest in activities that are usually pleasurable. At its most extreme, it can lead to suicide.
Depression has long been treated with medication and talking therapies — and they’re not going anywhere just yet. But we’re beginning to understand that increasing how much exercise we get and switching to a healthy diet can also play an important role in treating — and even preventing — depression.
So what should you eat more of, and avoid, for the sake of your mood?
Ditch junk food
Research suggests that while healthy diets can reduce the risk or severity of depression, unhealthy diets may increase the risk.
Of course, we all indulge from time to time but unhealthy diets are those that contain lots of foods that are high in energy (kilojoules) and low on nutrition. This means too much of the foods we should limit:
processed and takeaway foods
processed meats
fried food
butter
salt
potatoes
refined grains, such as those in white bread, pasta, cakes and pastries
sugary drinks and snacks.
The average Australian consumes 19 serves of junk food a week, and far fewer serves of fibre-rich fresh food and wholegrains than recommended. This leaves us overfed, undernourished and mentally worse off.
Many of us find spending time in the great outdoors can be calming, and studies have shown that connecting with the natural world can help improve your mood.
It turns out you don’t need to get out on a day-long bush walk to get your nature hit. Simple interactions with nature – like heading to the park, looking out a garden or having indoor plants in your home – have been found to be good for your mental health.
Sarah was bushwalking with friends when she had a light bulb moment, realising that nature could help her as she recovered from a recent brain injury.
“I discovered that spending time in the natural environment also lifted the depression and anxiety triggered by being away from work for so long, with no idea when I would return.”
Dr Mark Cross understands anxiety viscerally. Not only is he a psychiatrist, he’s also lived with the condition nearly all his life. And he’s made the decision to be open about his struggle – a rare move for a doctor. His latest book is called ‘Anxiety: Expert Advice from a Neurotic Shrink Who’s Lived With Anxiety All His Life’’.
Brain Changer: The Good Mental Health Diet by Felice Jacka
3.85 · Rating details · 106 ratings · 11 reviews
‘This is a fascinating book, by a leading researcher, covering one of the most exciting areas of modern nutritional research – how what we eat impacts our gut and brain. The combination of personal stories and cutting edge science is a real winner.’ Michael Mosley
You feel how you eat. We accept that the quality of our diet affects the health of our heart and liver. S…more
Psychiatric Times July 2020 Edition
Does Insomnia Predict the Onset of Mental Illness?
PschTalks: Modern life explored by psychology experts
We’re excited to announce the release of our new podcast series! PsychTalks: Modern life explored by psychology experts is a nonfiction podcast exploring social psychology and science. Hosted by the award-winning journalist Lynne Malcolm, each episode dives deep into a single thought-provoking issue in modern-day Australia. With the help of experts, we unlock the psychology behind some of society’s most crucial questions — from the effects of fear-based advertising to unravelling the undercurrent of misinformation and conspiracy theories; and from the hype and hope of mindfulness and meditation, to the complex world of big data.
Episode 1: Misinformation: why do we fall for it?
Misinformation is being weaponised in the media and politics, and many fall down the conspiracy theory spiral. How do our brains predispose us to believe in misinformation and how is our current information environment – especially social media – aiding the spread of ‘fake news’? How should you approach conversations with people who buy into conspiracy theories?
For our first episode, we’re joined by Andrew Perfors (Associate Professor of Psychology at the University of Melbourne) and David Milner (editor and columnist at The Shot) for a look down the rabbit hole of misinformation.
New episodes will be released fortnightly during May and June 2022. Listen, like and share on your favourite podcast platform:
First national helpline to help people in multicultural communities to access information and advice
Healthdirect Australia has launched a new helpline called Multicultural Health Connect. The helpline is free and confidential.
In-language help is available by calling 1800 186 815. Callers speak with a trained worker who understands and respects their culture, needs and concerns. Callers can use their preferred language, with an interpreter if needed.
Callers can:
* get free health advice from a nurse
* get help finding doctors, hospitals, support, and community health centres
* learn more about Medicare
* learn about COVID-19, including how to get a vaccination, protect yourself and your family, and manage COVID-19 symptoms.
This service is available in all states and territories except Tasmania and Queensland. A service fact sheet is attached for more background on the service and a public facing webpage is available at Multicultural Health Connect | healthdirect.
