AICAFMHA:
promoting mental health for young Australians
Australian Infant, Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Health Association Ltd
ABN 87 093 479 022
COPMI Project Update - 8/12/2004
COPMI and the media
November has been a big month for feature articles about adult children of parents with a mental illness in the popular media with one about Jessica Rowe (newsreader) and her family in 'The Australian Women's Weekly' and an article about having a mother with mental illness in 'Cleo'. The national COPMI project was not involved in the development of either article (although we were pleased to see our website listed, with others, at the end of the Cleo article) but hopes to work more closely with youth oriented media in 2005. We are currently in the process of engaging a media consultant to help us get the messages across that young people with a parent with a mental illness need not feel alone and that they can access help, information and support if they wish to. We aim to use the valuable information learnt in our consultations with young people throughout Phase 1 of our project to inform this process.
In addition we are trying to keep abreast of what is appearing in the media on this topic. Please send us any clippings for our files of articles relating to 'copmi' issues that you come across and/or let us know of relevant TV and radio coverage. Thanks.
COPMI 'out and about'
Phil Robinson and I have recently spent time sharing information with people at conferences in Broken Hill and in Adelaide about the COPMI project and about the Principles and Actions and 'copmi-related resources'. It has been wonderful to see so many people from different walks of life and different sectors coming together to share and learn more about this area and to discuss 'how to make things better' for children of parents with a mental illness and their families. It has also been extremely useful for the project team to hear about how people are trying to implement the 'Principles and Actions' and to discuss any barriers to change. In 2005 we will be looking at the possibility of developing an on-line 'story book' where people can share some of the things that have worked or not worked in their areas as they have sought to make positive change in the 'copmi' arena.
Website Programmes and Services Update - and CDs of the COPMI site
Many thanks to everyone who has responded to my call to ensure that their programme or service listing on the copmi website http://www.copmi.net.au/ is current. Thanks also to Sue Garvin who has worked so hard to update that section of the site for us. Since the update we have arranged for some CDs of the site to be produced for those people who can not access the internet from their workplace. Please contact Sue (secretary@aicafmha.net.au or 08 8132 0786 if you require a CD. The cost of each CD is $9.50 incl GST, postage and packaging.
Closure for Christmas
The COPMI project office will be closed from 4.00pm (SA time) on Christmas Eve
but will re-open on Tuesday 18th January 2005. Thanks to all who have supported
the COPMI project (in a myriad of ways!) during 2004. I look forward to
working with you in 2005.
I hope that you and your loved ones have a safe and enjoyable holiday
period.
Elizabeth Fudge
Project Manager,
COPMI Initiative
Ph (08) 8161 6859
Fax (08) 81616983
fudgee@wch.sa.gov.au
PO Box 387, Stepney SA 5069
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