News
Supporting Communities in Responding to Suicide Being Used as a Threat
A resource tackling the issue of people using suicide as a threat has been redeveloped to assist Northern Territory community members and service providers to respond to this difficult issue. ‘’The Little Red Threat Book’’, originally published in 2007, has been revised and further developed by the Central Australian Life Promotion Network (LPN) with input
Productivity Commission Draft Report Into Mental Health
Public comment closed this week to the Australian Productivity Commission Draft Report Into Mental Health. MHACA was broadly supportive of the draft report, however highlighted some key concerns in our submission: The draft report does not consider in depth the very key role of the community managed mental health support sector in assisting people with mental health
February Group Activities Calendar
The MHACA Group Activities program is a community based program which aims to improve the quality of life for individuals with mental illness by offering structured and socially based activities. Group activities also provide an opportunity for participants to develop personally and professionally as Peers. Download the February Group Activities Calendar To participate in MHACA group
January Group Activities Calendar
The MHACA Group Activities program is a community based program which aims to improve the quality of life for individuals with mental illness by offering structured and socially based activities. Group activities also provide an opportunity for participants to develop personally and professionally as Peers. Download the January Calendar To participate in MHACA group activities you
December Group Activities Calendar
The MHACA Group Activities program is a community based program which aims to improve the quality of life for individuals with mental illness by offering structured and socially based activities. Group activities also provide an opportunity for participants to develop personally and professionally as Peers. Download the December Group Activities Calendar To participate in MHACA group
Productivity Commission Inquiry into Mental Health Draft Report Release
The Productivity Commission Inquiry into Mental Health Draft Report was released 31st October. The Productivity Commission estimated that mental illness costs Australia $180 billion annually. It noted that the rate of mental health presentations at emergency departments has risen by about 70 per cent over the past 15 years. The draft report has “documented long-standing
Group Activities Calendar November
The MHACA Group Activities program is a community based program which aims to improve the quality of life for individuals with mental illness by offering structured and socially based activities. Group activities also provide an opportunity for participants to develop personally and professionally as Peers. Download the Group Activities Calendar November 2019 To participate in
Group Activities Calendar October
The MHACA Group Activities program is a community based program which aims to improve the quality of life for individuals with mental illness by offering structured and socially based activities. Group activities also provide an opportunity for participants to develop personally and professionally as Peers. Download the Group Activities Calendar October 2019 To participate in
Group Activities Calendar September
The MHACA Group Activities program is a community based program which aims to improve the quality of life for individuals with mental illness by offering structured and socially based activities. Group activities also provide an opportunity for participants to develop personally and professionally as Peers. Download the Group Activities Calendar September 2019 To participate in
Suicide Story Evaluation – Strong Evidence of Impact
Suicide Story is a program that was developed by the Mental Health Association of Central Australia (MHACA) in conjunction with Aboriginal people from the Central Australian and Barkly regions, following a spate of suicides in those areas in the early 2000’s. MHACA has been delivering this community capacity building approach to remote communities across the
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Whilst MHACA will be closed Monday as it is a public holiday, this is a reminder that the lived experience and carer's online forums are available and moderated at all times at mhaca.saneforums.org
NDIS SUPPORT COORDINATOR
MHACA’s Support Coordination Team assists NDIS participants with mental health difficulties and a permanent and significant disability to access quality formal and informal support services in their community. The Support Coordinator will have responsibility for establishing and maintaining a positive collaborative relationship with the participant. They have responsibility for ensuring the participant is linked to the services and supports that will allow them to achieve the goals articulated in their NDIS Plan. The Support Coordinator will actively be involved in the development, implementation, monitoring, review and reporting of participants programs with key stakeholders.
Participants are supported and encouraged to have control and choice over how, when and where those supports are provided. Support Coordinators are employed to facilitate this process and help participants and their families seek opportunities to build capacity to enable them to reach greater levels of independence and improved quality of life.
To find the position description and selection criteria go to mhaca.org.au/ndis-support-coordinator/
The “Feeling Sad Or Worried?” animation has been developed by MHACA and encourages community members to reach out if they are experiencing mental health difficulties. It provides contacts for organisations that can provide support in the Arrernte language.
1 in 5 Australians are experiencing mental ill health each year and recent figures (2017-2018 Australian Bureau Statistics) show that 1 in 8 Australians are currently experiencing high or very high levels of psychological distress. It is estimated up to two thirds of people with a mental health disorder do not seek help from professionals.
There are often a number of barriers preventing people with mental health difficulties in seeking help. Many people don’t seek help until a crisis point is reached which impacts on the ability for the person to recover quickly and puts pressure on emergency services.
The key message is to reach out if your are feeling down, sad or worried as a number of supports are available.
The animation was produced by ITALK Studios in the Arrernte language.
MHACA now has an Instagram page. If you are on Instagram show us some love by following us at
www.instagram.com/mhaca0870/
Mental Health Association CA (@mhaca0870) • Instagram photos and videos
www.instagram.com
5 Followers, 5 Following, 6 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Mental Health Association CA (@mhaca0870)Today is the launch of Reimagine today Stage 2, a project which provides support to people living with mental health conditions with the NDIS. MHACA is proud to have worked on the project, on behalf of the Northern Territory Mental Health Coalition. This stage includes:
* A new look website, updated in line with community needs
* new resources co-designed with people from diverse communities
* A reimagine.today app – a spot for people to store information about themselves and keep track of their NDIS access journey, and appointments, etc.
* Skill building resources for people living with mental health conditions
* A Self-Care Hub
Have a look at the new resources at www.reimagine.today
Here is a video that MHACA helped produce:
youtu.be/EdLCGUEXVvo
Congratulations man! You have done a fantastic job with this - the big screen next! 👍🏾
Brilliant job brother! 👏
It is important that all organisations and individuals discussing mental ill-health avoid using stigmatising terminology and language.
The language used when communicating about mental ill-health can play a big role in keeping alive stereotypes, myths and stigma.
Certain language sensationalises mental ill-health and reinforces stigma eg. terms such as 'mental patient', 'nutter', 'lunatic', 'psycho', 'schizo', 'deranged', 'mad'. An example of referred terminology is a person is 'living with' or 'has a diagnosis of' a mental illness.
Find out more at:
mindframe.org.au/mental-health/communicating-about-mental-ill-health/language
Communicating about mental ill-health Lnaguage - Mindframe
mindframe.org.au
The language used when communicating about mental ill-health plays a big role in keeping alive stereotypes, myths and stigma.MHACA is hiring! Finance and Administration Team Leader.
In keeping with MHACA’s vision, the Finance and Administration Team Leader is a key role responsible for supporting the effective functioning of the organisation through the design and delivery of key organisational systems including, finance, human resources, administration, resource management including our vehicle fleet, policy and procedure, quality and safety, and governance support.
The Finance and Administration Team Leader will work under the direction of the Corporate Services Manager to further the objectives of the Association in line with the approved MHACA Strategic Plan. This role also will assist the organisation to manage key tasks, accounts, systems and processes associated with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
Responsibilities include managing the office administration; including human resource support to the Association, manage and coordinate a small administrative team and supervise external contracted services; involvement in financial management; ensuring an efficient, effective and safe workplace for all employees. The role will also assist in, and provide advice on, activities designed to meet the business and organisational transitional needs relating to NDIS and be a key contact.
Applications due 12th June.
For a full job description please got to mhaca.org.au/finance-and-administration-team-leader/
Tonight's SANE Australia's Topic Tuesday is a live mindfulness session with a SANE counsellor. Join the group at 6.30pm NT Time, Tuesday 26 May, at mhaca.saneforums.org/t5/Special-Events/Join-us-for-our-online-mindfulness-group-Tues-26th-May-7-8...
Mindfulness practice helps people connect to what is happening in the moment. This reduces stress, making people feel calmer and allowing them to think more clearly🧘. Taking a few minutes out of your day to focus on your thoughts and surroundings can have really positive effects on your mental wellbeing.
If you’ve never tried meditation before, or you’d like to continue practicing, everyone is welcome!
MHACA would like to acknowledge that today is National Sorry Day, the anniversary of Kevin Rudd’s speech to Parliament acknowledging the great harm done to Aboriginal communities, through child removal practices, now referred to as the Stolen Generations.
This website provides a transcript of the apology and information about the Bringing Them Home report.
aiatsis.gov.au/explore/articles/apology-australias-indigenous-peoples
Apology to Australia's Indigenous peoples
aiatsis.gov.au
The National Apology to the Stolen Generations came about as a recommendation from The National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal Children from their Families. It highlighted the suffering of ...