Barwon Health Mental Health and Drugs & Alcohol Services Family
& Friends Newsletter
August 2014
Carers, Family and Friends Support Groups
Thursday 7th August – Mental Health Carer Education and Peer Support – in
the activities room at Barwon Health Community Health Services 104 – 108
Bellarine Hwy Newcomb from 1.00 – 3.00 ‘Myths, Mayhem and Recovery” – an
interactive session with Shirley Jennings – senior psychiatric nurse at Barwon
Health and with years of experience in Mental Health nursing. Please come at
about 12.45 for a cuppa and chat before the session commences.
Apologies for the July session – unfortunately the presenter was ill. We have
re-scheduled her ‘Sleep matters’ workshop for Thursday September 4th
Wednesday 13th August – Family Drug Support – in the Green Room at the
Swanston Centre Annex from 7.00 – 9.00
Thursday 14th August – Creative Carers – in the activities room at Newcomb
from 1.00 – 3.00 Please note - Carer Respite services are holding a movie day
on this date - see their winter newsletter for details. For creative carers not
wishing to attend the movie we will have our session as usual at Newcomb.
Bring your own craft project or make a beaded necklace if you missed last
month’s fun.
Thursday 21st August – Cubby House in the Green Room at the Swanston
Centre Annex from 2.00 – 4.00
As of 1st July 2014 the new Mental Health Complaints Commission
comes into operation.
The MHCC was established through Victoria’s new Mental Health Act 2014 to
receive and resolve complaints about Victorian public mental health services.
It is completely independent and separate from mental health services.
Anyone can contact the commission to talk about their concerns.
This includes:
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People receiving or trying to access public mental health services
(consumers)
Any person who is acting on behalf of a consumer
Any person who has a genuine interest in the well-being of a consumer
This means that consumers, carers, family members, friends, advocates, staff
and any other person who has concerns about a person’s experience with a
public mental health service can make a complaint to the commission.
What kind of complaint can you make?
You can talk to them about any concern or complaint about public mental
health services in Victoria.
You can also talk to them if your complaint is about not receiving a service.
Even if it’s not something that they are able to deal with, they will help you find
the best person to talk to and help you.
Mental Health Complaints Commission Website:
http://www.mhcc.vic.gov.au/index.htm
You can make an enquiry or complaint by
Phone: 1800 246 054 (free call from landlines)
Email: help@mhcc.vic.gov.au
Fax: 03 9949 1506
Mental Health Act 2014 Handbook
The Department of Health has made available online a new MH Act Handbook.
While this resource is for services and clinicians it provides a general
overview of key components within the MH Act. As such, it is a handy
resource for families and carers.
You can access content in this handbook by theme and by using the A-Z list of
the elements of the Act. Information sheets for families and carers on the
Advanced Statement and Nominated Person, Family and Carer Engagement
components are being finalised by the Department of Health and will be made
available soon.
MHCAA Launch Carer Stories Website
Late last month, Mental Health Carers Arafmi Australia launched their ‘Our
National Voice’, website. This new website is devoted to telling the personal
stories of mental health carers in order to raise awareness of their
experiences.
To visit the website please go to www.ournationalvoice.com
Mental Health First Aid Training – Geelong
While people often know a lot about common physical health problems, we
may be unsure how to help a family member or friend experiencing mental
health problems. In order to help people provide initial support for someone
with a mental health problem, an adult Mental Health First Aid training course
has been developed. The course provides information about depression,
anxiety disorders, psychosis and substance use disorder. Participants in the
course will learn how to recognise the symptoms of mental illness; the
possible causes and risk factors for these illnesses; how to give appropriate
initial help and support to a person experiencing one of these illnesses; and
how to take appropriate action if a crisis situation arises involving suicidal
behaviour, panic attack, stress reaction to trauma or threatening psychotic
behaviour.
Coming up in November you can take part in Mental Health First Aid Training
for carers. This free training will be held at the Geelong Medicare Local office
on November 7, 14, 21 and 28 from 9.30 to 1.30. If you are interested in
attending please contact Barwon Health Carer Respite Services during
business hours on 1800 052 222
Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health problem affecting
Australians.
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Anxiety disorders affect 9.7% or 1.3 million adult Australians (12%
women and 7.1% men) during a 12 month period (Australian Bureau of
Statistics, 1997).
The onset of anxiety disorders is generally in early to late adolescence.
Various research studies report anxiety disorder prevalence rates
between 5.7% to 15.4% in children ranging in age from 7 to 11 years old,
and rates of 8.7% to 17.7% in adolescents aged 12 to 18 years old.
The population of people in Victoria who will suffer from an anxiety
disorder, at some time during their life, is estimated to be 600,000.
Anxiety disorders affect people from all walks of life.
The causes of anxiety disorders are likely to be a complex interaction
between several factors, including genetics, brain chemistry, personality
and life events.
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The progressive development of symptoms in an anxiety disorder,
including increasing frequency, complexity and severity of symptoms, is
a consequence of a reinforcement cycle inherent in the symptoms
themselves, and other factors which have a significant impact on a
person's emotional, mental and physical well-being.
Common or core features of all of the anxiety disorders include excessive worry; hyper-vigilance; avoidance; emotional distress and
tension; faulty and irrational thinking; physical anxiety reactions.
The thoughts and behaviours associated with an anxiety disorder are
generally extreme or excessive versions of normal thoughts and
behaviours.
While the impact of an anxiety disorder can be severe and debilitating
on a person's life, anxiety disorders do not impair a person's intellectual
capacity, level of insight or awareness of reality.
Severity in an anxiety disorder is generally associated with social
isolation, inability to leave the home, no or little respite from symptoms,
depression, and consequential negative impacts on relationships,
education, employment and finances.
People with anxiety disorders generally seek to hide their symptoms
and problems from their family, work or school peers and the
community, due to strong feelings of embarrassment and shame
regarding their difficulties.
People with severe anxiety disorders may experience difficulties in their
ability to undertake many routine and life-sustaining activities and
become highly dependent upon carers and family members, which may
lead to significant distress and problems in the family.
Many people with an anxiety disorder also suffer with depression, sleep
disorders, and physical health problems that are related to stress such
as Irritable Bowel Syndrome (link for further information).
Anxiety disorders are treatable with psychological therapies, or
medication, or both.
Recovery from an anxiety disorder is possible with specialist treatment,
education, support and self-management skills. (beyondblue guide for carers –
supporting & caring for a person with depression, anxiety and/or related disorder)
beyondblue have many resources, pamphlets & fact sheets
For an up-to-date list of resources, please visit
www.beyondblue.org.au or call the beyondblue info line on 1300 22 4636
The beyondblue support service provides advice and support via telephone
24/7 (just call 1300 22 4636)
Another good source of information and helpful resources is Sane Australia
For a list of resources, please visit www.sane.org
Sane also has a helpline service 1800 18SANE(7263) which operates Monday –
Friday from 9.00 – 5.00
Geelong Adult Anxiety Support Group:
Meetings are held in the hall at St George’s Presbyterian Church corner of
LaTrobe Terrace & Ryrie St Geelong from 7.00 – 9.00 on the last Thursday of
each month
The Innovations in Mental and Physical Health And Clinical
Treatments Strategic Research Centre (IMPACT SRC) is part of the
School of Medicine, Deakin University and is located at Barwon
Health.
The IMPACT SRC has a new website that contains information on all the
research they are currently involved in. Focusing both on mental and physical
health, the IMPACT SRC has a variety of projects running involving a multitude
of illnesses. We are currently calling for participants to take part in clinical
trials of new therapies we are proposing. We invite you to peruse our new
site; http://www.deakin.edu.au/research/src/impact/ and if you’re interested in
taking part in our trials (see our ‘call for study participants’) or any of our
research, please contact us.
TRIVIA & INTERESTING FACTS
Boost your Brain-power:
Everything we eat and drink affects how we think and feel.
Mood, learning ability and memory are all affected by the type and quality of
foods we eat.
Our brain and neurotransmitters are derived from nutrients found in our diet.
Neurotransmitters – serotonin and acetylcholine – vital for mood and memory,
are made from amino acids in protein foods. Carbohydrates are used to fuel
our brains and good fats are vital for healthy brain function. A good balance of
these brain boosting nutrients and vitamins and minerals are essential to build
and rebuild the brain and nervous system.
Eating a well-balanced diet abundant in these nutrients will not only help
improve memory and boost your brain power but could also help reduce the
risk of ageing related diseases such as dementia and Alzheimers.
Include plenty of fresh vegetables, salads, fruit, fish, lean meats, eggs, nuts
and whole grain bread and pasta.
“Being healthy is about having balance and harmony in your life PHYSICALLY,
EMOTIONALLY, SPIRITUALLY & SOCIALLY.” Lisa Guy, ND
“Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” Mark
Twain
“Over the years I have learned that what is important in a dress is the woman
who is wearing it.” Yves Saint Laurent
Use garden solar lights in the house at night instead of night lights, thereby
saving electricity, - a wonderful, safe idea…but remember to re-charge in
sunlight. Green Energy 2013
Save coffee grounds to use as a snail deterrent – keep a bowl under the sink
or ask your local café for theirs.
“Action may not always bring happiness, but there is no happiness without
action.” Mahatma Gandhi
Pay it forward
Global Love Letters – a movement where people write anonymous letters of
love and leave them for strangers to find – has to be the ultimate feel-good
initiative, a simple intention to spread global goodwill. Join up at
www.globaloveletters.co
Stay well this winter – but if you become ill here are 5 rules of
recovery:
Rest: Especially important in the first few days – and that means bed rest.
Nourish: Slow cooked, easy to absorb, nutrient rich foods, like soups and
casseroles
Hydrate: Fluids are vitally important: aim for 2 litres per day. Fresh vegetable
juices, herbal teas and filtered water are good choices.
Lighten up: Adequate vitamin D is essential for a healthy immune system.
Twenty minutes of gentle sunlight, morning and afternoon, will boost your
levels.
Move: Once you start to feel a little better, gentle exercise, like walking or
stretching, will help drain the lymphatic system. (Nature & Health June-July 2014)
A Good Book for a wintery afternoon:
‘The Kindness of Strangers’ edited by Don George and published by lonely planet… A
timely collection of 26 inspiring tales this book explores the unexpected human
connections that so often transfigure and transform the experience of travel, and
celebrates the gift of kindness around the world.
5 things you didn’t know about…pistachio nuts
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They were a favourite food of the Queen of Sheba
Botanically speaking, they are not actually a nut, but seed of a fruit.
Fossilised pistachio nuts – along with primitive nut-crackers – have been
found in Israel’s Huleh Valley, dating back 780,000 years.
Each tree yields about 50,000 nuts every other year.
Pistachios have cardiovascular benefits, and also help fight inflammation and manage
blood sugar levels.
“Our deepest fears are like dragons guarding our deepest treasure.” Rainer
Maria Rilke
Cheesy rice & vegetable bake serves 4 - time to make 55 mins
Ingredients
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Cooking oil spray
1 cup brown rice
2 onions finely sliced
1 tablespoon of olive oil
10 large silver beet leaves – white stalks removed
5 eggs
Ground black pepper to taste
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3 tablespoons grated parmesan
2 tomatoes sliced
¾ cup grated reduced fat cheese
Instructions
Step1 - Preheat oven to 180degC. Lightly spray a baking dish with oil and set aside.
Cook rice according to packet instructions
Step 2 – Meanwhile, heat oil in a frying pan and cook onion until soft and slightly
caramelised
Step 3 – Steam silverbeet leaves for 2 minutes. Cool slightly, squeeze out excess
moisture then chop.
Step 4 – combine all ingredients (except tomatoes and a handful of cheese) in a bowl
then spoon into prepared baking dish and press into dish. Arrange tomato slices on
top and sprinkle with reserved cheese.
Step 5 – Bake for 35 – 40 minutes, until lightly browned. Serve with green salad or
steamed vegetables. It may also be served with an accompanying meat dish.
Thank you to all who came out on a cold wintry day and made our Xmas in
July lunch a happy and enjoyable afternoon. Turkey & plum pudding seem so
much more appropriate in mid-winter.
For carer support & information about mental health services
Ring Pamela – 421 52418 or mob 0437 663 845
Jennifer – 421 52419 or mob 0490 346 694
Note land line numbers – recently all Barwon Health telephone numbers changed and
the prefix to the land lines is 421
We both work part time so leave a message & we will call you as soon as possible
For respite services
Ring the intake worker – FREECALL 1800 052 222
National Family Drug Support
Available 7 days a week 24 hours a day – phone 1300 368 186