Mental Health Promotion, Prevention, Early Intervention (MHPPEI)
In partnership with a wide range of organisations, both government and community, QTMHC coordinates the planning, development, implementation and evaluation of initiatives addressing mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention issues for people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. QTMHC also adds value to MHPPEI initiatives coordinated by other organisations.
The MHPPEI Coordinator position maintains linkages with multicultural and mental health networks with the aim to introduce and keep mental health and CALD issues in their respective agendas.
Under the MHPPEI umbrella, a number of projects and programs are implemented.
Building Resilience in Transcultural Australians (BRiTA) Program. BRiTA is a mental health promotion program for building positive attitudes, skills and behaviours for children and young people who are experiencing an acculturation process in a culturally diverse society. QTMHC has developed, piloted and evaluated two versions of the program: BRiTA for young people aged 12 – 18 years that is delivered either in school or community settings such as church groups, homework clubs, or youth support groups; and BRiTA-PS for children aged 8 – 12 years delivered in school settings. Both versions are delivered by facilitators who have received training and resources that have been designed for program participants and facilitators. Further information here.
Promoting Stronger Samoan Families Project. This project has been operating since August 2004 and aims to learn how to prevent family violence among the Samoan community in the Logan, Caboolture & Ipswich-Inala areas. The project also aims to learn how to increase the capacity of services to provide more culturally appropriate services to Samoan families. The project officer, who is a religious leader, has been instrumental in establishing linkages with other religious leaders in this community as Samoans strongly revolve around church groups. Up-skilled bilingual Samoan Community Facilitators have been conducting community information sessions that have been catalysts to initiate discussions on family violence and culturally appropriate ways to prevent it. Regular dissemination of information through a Samoan radio program is also being an effective means of communication. See report of Stage One of the project here. The project, to be completed in June 2006 is focusing on more targeted community education; facilitating the establishment of links between local community leaders and domestic violence, family, child safety and police services; and piloting strategies that would increase cultural responsiveness of services. Further information here.
Final report July 2005 - June 2006
Mental Health Week Activity 2004. The report describes how ten CALD communities prepared and showcased their traditional practices to maintain mental health and wellbeing. See attached report ( PDF 874 kB)
Early Intervention and Clinical Care Project for Refugees on Temporary Protection Visas. This project focuses on the outreach and provision of support to refugees on TPVs to access mental health services and is a partnership between the Qld Program of Assistance to Survivors of Torture and Trauma, the Princess Alexandra Hospital Division of Mental Health, South Brisbane Child & Youth Mental Health Service and QTMHC. See report here.
Active Sisters! Enhancing the community capacity for physical activity of isolated Islamic women project. Between 2002 and 2003, the QTMHC worked in collaboration with the Islamic Women’s Association of Qld to increase the knowledge and skills of isolated women to enable them to manage and participate in group physical activities that promote their mental and emotional wellbeing. See project report here.
Family Mental Health Radio Education Project. This project involves the broadcasting of a series of radio programs on mental health and wellbeing topics in 14 languages. "Family Help Kit" and "Health and Wellbeing of Older People" are two series of radio interviews with bilingual mental health professionals that are now available free of charge in up to 15 languages from QTMHC. The audio resources were developed by the Transcultural Mental Health Centre (NSW) and have been adapted for Queensland by the Australian Transcultural Mental Health Network and the QTMHC. These valuable compact disks will be offered to language specific radio programs and could be used for group discussions or lent to families and individuals.
The NESB Youth Mental Health Needs Assessment. A partnership project with Youth Affairs Network of Qld Inc. This study involves Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia. It explores the needs of young people, carers and service providers in regard to young people dealing with anxiety, depression and extreme stress. The final report and snapshots were launched on 13th November, 2001. Two journal articles have been written by members of the project reference group. Additional analysis of the data gathered is currently being conducted. CLICK HERE for the final report and snapshots of the NESB Youth Mental Health Needs Assessment Project.
EFFORT Program. The EFFORT Program is an exercise and conversation program that aims to promote the mental health of men and women from a refugee background by engaging them in a safe environment where they exercise in a group and discuss psycho-social topics. Pre and post program evaluation shows that EFFORT is effective in decreasing some symptoms of psychological distress and increasing feelings of emotional and social wellbeing. EFFORT is a partnership between the Princess Alexandra Hospital Mental Health Services, the Qld Program of Assistance to Survivors of Torture and Trauma (men’s programs), the Multicultural Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing Inc (women’s program), the QEII Hospital Community Health Services and the School of Human Movement Studies at the University of Queensland. A DVD is also available from the QTMHC Resource Library on the men’s exercise program.
For more information see attached reports. (Reports:- EFFORT women’s exercise project and EFFORT men’s exercise project)
For further information, contact:
Ms Elvia Ramirez
Mental Health Promotion, Prevention & Early Intervention Co-ordinator
Ph. (07) 3167-8333
Fax (07) 3167-8322
Email: elvia_ramirez@health.qld.gov.au
Copyright | Disclaimer | Privacy | Feedback
|
Other languages
© The State of Queensland (Queensland Health) 2008.
