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 - 25/02/2005
COPMI and the media
The national COPMI project has engaged Hootville Communications to provide advice about promoting the COPMI resources and key messages to children and families where parents have a mental illness. As part of their approach Hootville are keen to work with AICAFMHA to develop a list of people across the country who may be able to speak with journalists (mainly from print and radio) about their experiences. These could be young people, parents with a mental illness, their 'co-parents' and other carers/support people (such as grandmothers).
We would not expect any family member to participate in interviews etc without the support of workers they know (and support/advice from the Hootville people), so we have asked service providers in the first instance to help us identify potential participants.
ALSO: I'm interested to hear of any ideas readers may have regarding events in the next few months that may be useful 'springboards' for journalists to pick up on 'copmi' stories ... locally or nationally. Our relationship with Hootville (check them out at www.hootville.com) will be critical to the success of the work we do with the media but we need our network's help to find those 'hidden' stories in their networks around Australia.
Melbourne Visit
During a recent visit to Melbourne I made a presentation, within a symposium
organized by David Hay, at the Australian Institute of Family Studies conference
and we were able to 'spread the word' about the COPMI resources (booklets
and website) and about phase 2 of the project. I also met up with Rose Cuff
and Angela Obradovic from the national COPMI Reference Group and was fortunate
to be present when Amanda Smith from the DHS in Victoria handed them their
copies of the long awaited "Families and Mental Health Parenting Resource Kit".
The Kit contains useful information to assist with the many challenges faced
by parents and draws on the experience of parents with a mental illness who
have included their own stories. It also includes copies of the COPMI
project's booklets, 'The Best for Me and My Baby" and "Family Talk".
Congratulations to all involved in the Kit's development.
Work with MindMatters
I have recently met with Tracy Zilm from MindMatters and begun work on a resource for teachers who are using the text 'Saving Francesca" within their Middle School English curriculum. This book won a Children's Book Council of Australia Book of the Year award for Older Readers and is based on a year in the life of the main character who lives with a parent with depression. In working with Tracy I have made contact with an English teacher who has successfully used SANE's book "Joe's Diary" with her classroom over a 15 lesson period and I also hope to share her valuable work with teachers via the website http://www.copmi.net.au
Elizabeth Fudge
Project Manager,
COPMI Initiative
Ph (08) 8161 6859
Fax (08) 81616983
fudgee@wch.sa.gov.au
PO Box 387, Stepney SA 5069
http://www.copmi.net.au
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