Content about Mental health

MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS AWARDS 1ST OCT  - Nominations now open.  The Mental Health Matters Awards are unique and designed to recognise the achievements of individuals and organisations who have worked to improve understanding, awareness, service provision and the general mental health of communities within NSW over the past 12 months (July 2012 - June 2013).  The awards are coordinated by the Mental Health Association NSW and recognise services large and small doing outstanding work. 

Nominations close on Friday, 9 August.

Dr Nicolas Cherbuin, from the Australian National University's Centre for Research on Ageing, Health and Wellbeing, said there were currently 300,000 dementia sufferers across the country, which would increase to about one million by 2050.

The direct health costs of dementia were about $5 billion a year, he said.

However, if risk factors such as depression, lack of exercise and poor diet could be reduced by a tenth, the number of new dementia cases would fall by 3.3 per cent annually.

This 12 hour Mental Health First Aid course teaches members of the public first aid skills for helping people experiencing a mental health crisis, mental problems or the early stages of a mental illness.

17th & 18th May 2013 - 9am - 4pm

Sponsored by the Rotary Clubs of Maroubra & Randwick - cost only $40

Limited to 25 places

RSVP by Monday 13 May 2013

Contact:  Kate McKenzie - register at http://www.trybooking.com/45529

If you provide ongoing care, support and assistance to someone using mental health services, and you do not do this on a commercial basis, we invite you to complete this survey.

 This survey was developed by experienced carers and the Northern NSW Local Health District (‘LHD’) in collaboration with various stakeholders including Mental Health Carers ARAFMI NSW Inc. (‘ARAFMI’). It was developed for use in the LHD.

The science of child development shows that the foundation for sound mental health is built early in life, as early experiences – which include children’s relationships with parents, caregivers, relatives, teachers, and peers – shape the architecture of the developing brain. Disruptions in this developmental process can impair a child’s capacities for learning and relating to others, with lifelong implications.

MEDIA RELEASE

The NSW Mental Health Commissioner writes:

Mental Health Carers ARAFMI NSW Inc. (‘ARAFMI’) is the peak body for mental health carers in New South Wales. As such ARAFMI welcomes the opportunity to comment upon the Mental Health Act (NSW) 2007 (MHA) at the time of its statutory review after five (5) years of operation as specified under section 201 of the MHA.

In this submission ARAFMI will address the areas of major concern to mental health carers in NSW which relate to the operation of this legislation.

These will be:

The time is right to consider what possible alternative models there might be for the Mental Health Review Triubunal's role in supervising mental health treatment in NSW. A review of the Mental Health Act of NSW is required in 2012 under section 203 of that Act; and the Tribunal is administered under that legislation.

The current Mental Health Act is chiefly concerned with the provision of involuntary mental health treatment as can be seen from section 3 the ‘Objects’ clause:

The Mental Health Carers ARAFMI NSW Inc. (ARAFMI)  2012 AGM was very successful   and well attended at our head office 80 William Street Woolloomooloo.   A new board was elected amidst an air of enthusiasm and positive future direction.   We now have a new President, a new Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer as well as one new Ordinary Committee Member together with three previous members. 

The newly elected Board for Mental Health Carers ARAFMI NSW Inc. comprises:

President: Kristine Havron