National Mental Health Week is an annual event celebrated in Australia and over 100 other countries in an effort to increase the public’s understanding of mental illness, encourage the reduction of stigma and discrimination against people living with mental illness, and promote positive mental health.
The theme for Mental Health Week this year is
‘No Health without Mental Health’. Building on this theme, here in the ACT we are also promoting the idea of getting connected. Connecting with people around you, with family, friends, colleagues and neighbours, at home, work, school or in your local community. Building these connections will support and enrich us every day.
Mental Health Week is an opportunity to raise awareness about mental health in your local community. It helps to remind us all that mental health is a positive term about wellbeing and happiness, not only about illness. It’s something for everyone to think about. It’s a chance to educate and inform people in your local area, or any other sector of the community.
ACT Calendar of Events: Get Involved
ACT Mental Health Week Committee
A calendar of events including the Territory Launch and 20+ other activities is available from
http://www.mhccact.org.au/cms/index.php?page=MHWeek_Mindscapes.
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Comorbidity Related Activities in ACT Mental Health Week
Cannabis Workshops and Workers Forums
National Cannabis Prevention and Information Centre and ATODA
Training on core cannabis knowledge and the Cannabis Treatment Guidelines will be held as part of Mental Health Week 2011. Sessions include:
ACT ATOD Sector Forum (9.30am – 11am): An opportunity to network and share information on new developments in the sector.
Cannabis: Everything You Need to Know (11.30am – 1.30pm): The latest evidence-based information and reviewed research on cannabis.
Cannabis Treatment Guidelines (2.15pm – 3.30pm): Introduces participants to the recently developed guidelines for the management of cannabis related problems (Copeland, Frewen & Elkins). These aim to provide clinicians with a reference point for skills required to intervene with cannabis related problems. This workshop is suitable for health care practitioners who work in a variety of settings where clients present with cannabis use disorders. Participants will be made familiar with the various aspects of the guidelines including assessment, withdrawal, psycho-education and interventions.
Date: Friday 14 October 2011
Cost: Free
Registration: Numbers are limited. Contact Amanda Bode on
amanda@atoda.org.au or (02) 6255 4070 and notify which session(s) you would like to attend.
To download the workshop flyer visit
http://www2.atoda.org.au/2011/08/cannabis-workshop/.
ACT Comorbidity Bus Tours
Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drug Association ACT, Mental Health Community Coalition ACT and the Youth Coalition of the ACT
The Comorbidity Bus Tour seeks to increase the capacity of frontline workers to support people experiencing co-occurring alcohol, tobacco and other drug and mental health issues (comorbidity). The Comorbidity Bus Tour visits a variety of services in the ACT from the alcohol, tobacco and other drug (ATOD), mental health and youth sectors.
Upcoming tour dates: Wednesday 12 October 2011
Cost: Ranges from $50 - $70.
Registration: Contact Katrina on (02) 6247 3540 or
katrina@youthcoalition.net.
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Comorbidity Resources
Mental Health Week can provide us with an opportunity to consider how we are linking with mental health services and comorbid resources to support the people experiencing co-occuring ATOD and mental health issues.
ATODA encourages workers in ATOD treatment services to have a meeting and form closer linkages with a mental health service or worker. Additionally, a summary of some important resources that can support you in your work are provided below:
Guidelines on the Management of Co-Occuring Alcohol and Other Drug and Mental Health Conditions in Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Settings
National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC)
These Guidelines are based on the best available evidence and draw upon the experience and knowledge of clinicians, researchers, consumers and carers.
Download a copy at
http://www.med.unsw.edu.au/NDARCWeb.nsf/page/Comorbidity+Guidelines.
Directory of Mental Health Services in the ACT
Mental Health Foundation ACT
A comprehensive Directory of Mental Health and related services in the ACT available for download at
http://www.mhf.org.au/mhf/default.aspx.
Comorbidity Resources for Service Users
Australian Drug Foundation (ADF)
The ADF has a range of resources that can be used with service users regarding comorbidity. Visit
http://bookshop.adf.org.au/store/search.asp?audience=Dual%20diagnosis for more information.
Smoking and Mental Health
Quit South Australia
In response to the high prevalence of smoking amongst people experiencing mental health issues, Quit SA have developed a range of resources to support people leaving with mental illness who are concerned about their smoking. For more information or to download resources visit
http://www.quitsa.org.au/aspx/mental_health.aspx.
Indigenous Risk Impact Screen (IRIS) and Brief Intervention
Queensland Health
The IRIS and Brief Intervention program provides a culturally secure and validated screening instrument and brief intervention designed to meet the specific needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia.
The IRIS is a two factor screen that assesses alcohol and other drug use and associated mental health issues. The screening instrument allows for the assessment of risk factors for alcohol and other drug use and associated mental health issues in a culturally appropriate and timely manner.
Training in the IRIS will be held in the ACT in early 2012. Contact Amanda Bode, ATODA on
amanda@atoda.org.au to express interest.
For more information on the IRIS visit
http://www.health.qld.gov.au/atod/prevention/iris.asp.
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