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December 2021

MHCV Team Update

Dear Valued Carers,

It has been a very exciting December as we wind our way to the end of the year. This is our last newsletter for the year and so time for reflection. It has been another tough year. We look back and we all did some amazing things. We have pulled together through the pandemic. Canberra is a world leader in vaccinations. We adjusted our way of living to cope with lockdown and we looked after each other so we thrived as best we could.

MHCV launched a new website mhcv.org.au, a mental health navigator website, and joined social media on Facebook. We provided consultation opportunities for diverse matters, such as NDIS, smoking cessation, and models of care. MHCV advised on many government and non-government committees, all the while listening to what mental health carers told us they wanted. Our annual survey closed with 113 respondents with 6 lucky voucher posted off to our lucky participants. The results will direct our work in the coming year. MHCV supported the co-design and launch of Safe Haven café and the Head to Health Clinic. The Carers Recognition bill passed into law, and we have lots of work planned next year to ensure that carers understand what this means for them.

Thank you to Advocacy and Policy Advisory Group members for their contribution this year. Keep an eye out next year as will be calling for new members. This is a great opportunity for Mental Health carers to get involved.

Thank you to all our carers who support us through the year, we are grateful to you and acknowledge the wonderful contributions to making our world a better place. If you want to contribute to our newsletter or tell us your story we are here to listen.

Our office will be closed during the holiday period from 5pm on Friday 24 December, and we will resume normal operations at 9am on Tuesday 4 January 2022.

Have safe and happy holidays.

Take Care

The Mental Health Carers Voice Team

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News

Safe Haven Opens for people experiencing emotional distress

Canberra’s first Safe Haven Cafe has now opened its doors to provide a new space for people experiencing mental health concerns, loneliness or the stress of day-to-day life and anyone over the age of 16, including carers, is welcome to drop in. Safe Haven is a place where people can access support outside of a hospital setting. People can visit Safe Haven to speak with a trained peer worker, who can help them manage their distress.

Everyone’s personal experience will be different, and the staff at Safe Haven are dedicated to guiding people through the support, services and tools that are available to them. Whether it’s a quiet corner, a communal space, a sensory station or useful resources, there is something for everyone. Safe Haven is located at the Belconnen Community Health Centre, and is open from 4:30pm to 9pm, Tuesday to Saturday.

General Practice GP register

Meridian is now hosting a Hobart Place General Practice GP Registrar (Dr Jacqui Nicholson – She/Her) at our Meridian wellbeing space for the LGBTIQA+ community to engage with safe and affirming primary health care.

This is an appointment-based and bulk billed service that operates at Meridian on a Thursday from 8.30am to 12.00pm and a Medicare card is required. Bookings are essential. For further information please contact the Meridian offices on 6257 2855 or email wellbeingservices@meridanact.org.au or call 0412 882 855.

Head to Health Services

Head to Health Pop Up services have been developed to support people of all ages living in the ACT, experiencing mental health issues. If your mental health is being impacted because of the COVID-19 pandemic, now is the time to reach out, even if you've never felt like this or asked for help before. Call 1800 595 212

Release of the Psychosocial Recovery Framework

The NDIA has announced that the NDIS Psychosocial Disability Recovery-Oriented Framework has now been endorsed by all Commonwealth and State and Territory Disability Ministers. Mental Health Australia has worked closely with the NDIA in the development of the Framework and strongly supports its aim to ensure that participants living with psychosocial disability are supported in their recovery journey to live a meaningful life in their community and can access and choose supports that enable independence and social and economic participation. The Recovery Framework is informed by the experiences of participants and their families and carers, service providers and state and territory governments.

Read our media release, Mental Health Australia Welcomes Recovery Framework.

National Lived Experience Peer Workforce Development Guidelines Launched

The National Mental Health Commission has launched the National Lived Experience (Peer) Workforce Development Guidelines under Action 29 of the Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan.

These Guidelines are primarily intended to inform decision makers, including employers and funding bodies. They will support change across the mental health sector by improving understanding of the benefits of the Lived Experience workforce. They will are designed to assist employers to assess their local readiness and prioritise activities that support successful implementation.

You can view and download the stakeholder kit, and the National Lived Experience (Peer) Workforce Development Guidelines and companion documents here!

New words to describe "Mixed emotions" from Beyond Blue

With everything constantly changing, it’s hard to find the right words to describe how we’re feeling. Beyond Blue have created a new set of words that give labels to ‘Mixed Emotions,’ so it’s easier to identify and talk about them – even if we don’t know exactly why we’re feeling them. Learn more

Training and Education

Still available – mindfulness for carers

Carers Australia’s online mindfulness developed with Simply Mindful and carers is still available ‘On Demand’ via our website. The full course has six sessions, with bonus practices and downloadable resources for carers to access at any time. Each of the sessions has also been translated into Auslan with captions.

Session 1: Mindfulness to reduce stress & anxiety.
Session 2: Mindfulness on the go.
Session 3: Mindfulness for keeping your cool when working with strong emotions.
Session 4: Mindfulness to help you sleep
Session 5: Self-compassion for carers – being on your own side
Session 6: How mindfulness works for me – carers sharing their tips.
To find out more information about mindfulness and access the sessions, click here.

Consultations and Surveys

Study into barriers to NDIA Access for people living with Psychosocial Disability

The University of Sydney is conducting a study about the NDIS and trying to understand what stops or makes it difficult for some people, to apply for the psychosocial disability stream of the NDIS.

Those with lived experience of mental ill-health and have not been able to or have chosen not to apply for the NDIS, friends or family members and advocacy or service organisations aware of some reasons why people with mental ill-health or psychosocial disability haven’t applied for the NDIS are welcome to participate in the survey

Launch of report "Consumer and Carer Experiences of Psychological Services in Australia"

Lived Experience Australia is excited to announce the launch of our report exploring consumer and carer experiences of psychology services in Australia. Psychologists are an integral part of Australia’s mental health care landscape, with approximately 1.26 million consumers accessing the services of psychologists through Medicare each year. Throughout the pandemic, demand for psychologists’ services has skyrocketed. The research aimed to understand psychological service needs of mental health consumers and carers, and provide a collective voice to government and service providers to inform service and policy design.

Have your say on new disability employment program

The Australian Government is redesigning the next disability employment support model and is seeking feedback from individuals and organisations. Help create a model that best supports people with a psychosocial disability by sharing your experience.

Have your say

Events Coming Up

Caring Together Conference

Friday 18th February 2022

Hotel Realm

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