[MMHA-E-Bulletin] MMHA E-Bulletin SYNERGY No.2 2005: The Importance of Family

[Multicultural Mental Health Australia]

Welcome to the Multicultural Mental Health Australia October 2005 E-Bulletin.

This free e-bulletin aims to keep you up-to-date with the latest news and
information related to the mental health and wellbeing of Australia’s
culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities. For
contributions: info at mmha.org.au

SPECIAL EDITION - SYNERGY No.2 2005: The Importance of Family

As we move forward in an ever-changing world, the expectations of the
family increase. For CALD families in Australia their past experiences can
be as diverse as their culture. Understanding this is an important part in
helping CALD families understand signs of mental illness and taking a
proactive approach to mental health. Mental illness and mental health are
not identifiable in some CALD communities, and may be seen as a spiritual
issue rather than a mental illness. Support for the family that is
culturally specific will go a long way to assist.


The aim of this edition is to explore the significance of the CALD family
and the challenges they face. Our family edition begins with Dr Beth
Kotze, Director of Mental Health, South Eastern Sydney Area Health Service
(SESAHS). Dr Kotze looks at CALD young people and their families and the
challenges they face.


Associate Professor Nicholas Procter provides his opinion of newly arrived
refugees,and migrants, settlement process. Sally Young is a Senior Social
Worker with the Mater Child Youth Mental Health Service in Queenland.
Sally shares her experience of working with CALD families and the lessons
she has learnt. We talk to a clinician, a carer and a consumer from
culturally diverse backgrounds living in the ACT to understand their
perspective.


Read how a family violence project in WA is making a difference. Carol
Hubert is currently working on the NSW Transcultural Rural Project. Carol
brings us up to speed on this important access and equity project. We take
a look at the Media & Mental Health Project, that aims to ensure
responsible, accurate and sensitive reporting of suicide and portrayal of
mental illness and mental health in the Australian media.
We hope you find the family edition of Synergy informative.


Please click below to link you to the MMHA website: http://www.mmha.org.au


Or http://www.mmha.org.au/MMHAPublications/Synergy/2005No2 to go straight
to the latest edition.


If you receive Synergy in hardcopy, look out for your edition soon!


Look out for the Synergy survey online or in your hardcopy of Synergy.
Your feedback is greatly appreciated.


Editorial Team
Synergy: MMHA’s magazine



Multicultural Mental Health Australia
Locked Bag 7118
Parramatta BC  2150

Ph:  02 9840 3333
Fax: 02 9840 3388

Email: admin at mmha.org.au
Web:  www.mmha.org.au