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AICAFMHA:
promoting mental health for young Australians
Australian Infant, Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Health Association Ltd
ABN 87 093 479 022

AICAFMHA E-News in Brief Issue #3.19

News in Brief - Issue #3.19 (11/10/2003)

AICAFMHA News / What's On? / Mental Health News / Resources / Back to E-News index

AICAFMHA News

The update for the COPMI Project is now online with a reminder to add your program/service to the database of services available to families where a parent has a mental illness. You can access the update here.

Your AICAFMHA membership application form can be downloaded at http://www.aicafmha.net.au/membership/index.htm . Take advantage of the 10% discount on ACER publications while supporting the association.

AICAFMHA notes the appointment of The Hon Tony Abbott MP to the position of Minister for Health and Ageing on 7 October 2003. We look forward to continuing positive relationships with the department enabling the association to maintain and build on services which promote the mental health and well-being of infants, children and young people in Australia.

What?s On?

The Best Years of Our Lives? or are they?
Presented by the National Coalition Against Bullying
Carlton Crest Hotel, Melbourne
Sun Nov 2 & Mon Nov 3, 2003
Info: ph 03 9830 2577, email info@amf.org.au

18th World Conference on Health Promotion and Health Education
Melbourne, 26 - 30 April, 2004
No 6 - (October 2003)
www.Health2004.com.au
Important Reminder: Abstract submissions close in 20 days on 31 October

EARLY CHILDHOOD INTERVENTION AUSTRALIA
Sixth Biennial National ECIA Conference
Broadening the Vision: Building Cohesive Communities for Children and Families
Grand Hyatt, Melbourne, 25 - 27 July 2004
www.cdesign.com.au/ecia2004
Call for Abstracts (View PDF file)

A CHILDHOOD IN DETENTION
A Public Symposium sponsored by Centacare
Adelaide Town Hall
Tuesday October 21, 3.30 - 5.00 pm
Information regarding this important event as part of the 2003 Australian Family Therapy Conference "Relationships, Reconciliation and Children" at website below. We are privileged to have a number of distinguished speakers.
Information www.familytherapy.org.au

9th Australasian Conference on Child Abuse and Neglect - The registration brochure for the Conference is available. Sydney Convention Centre from 24 - 27 November, 2003.
http://www.community.nsw.gov.au/accan/

The Third Australian Family & Community Strengths Conference - 'Building a Truly Civil Society' will be held at the University of Newcastle, NSW, Australia from 30 November to 3 December 2003.
Earlybird registration closes: 12 September 2003
The full draft program is now available on the conference website - www.pco.com.au/familystrengths .
Family Action Centre Website: www.newcastle.edu.au/department/fac

The Australian College of Psychotherapists (ACP) is an association whose members are trained in Self Psychology and Intersubjectivity.
We have a created an online, printable flyer to indicate our courses next year. Perhaps this would be of interest to some of your members and associates. You can access it from here: http://www.austcolpsych.org/publications/magazines/courseflyer.html

Mental Health News

Please find below a link to the third edition of NDYA News Update:
http://ndya.adgp.com.au/site/index.cfm?display=1052
The update includes information about:
Youth in Mind 2: Virtual reunion opening 8th OCTOBER
Following on from the success of the Youth in Mind: Youth Mental Health Care in General Practice conference, held as part of last year's National Divisions Forum, NDYA will be hosting a 'virtual reunion' in the form of a on-line forum for GPs, Division youth health project officers.

The third edition of Western Youth is now available and includes some interesting activities in mental health, including:
Attitudes Towards and Pathways to and from Young People's Health Service, Mental Health Service and Youth Mental Health Symposium.
View here. (PDF file)

Media release, Wed 8th Oct 2003, MHCA:
WA Mental Health Service Cuts A National Crisis
Leading figures from the mental health sector will attend a press conference today to address the impact of the WA funding cuts on all States and Territories.
View here. (PDF file)

Media release, Tues 7th Oct 2003, SANE
SANE Australia condemns cuts to WA mental health services
SANE Australia today joined its voice to those protesting against multi-million dollar cuts to mental health services in Western Australia
View here.

Resources

From ABC Health Updates:
YOUNGEST IN THE CLASS (Health Minutes: 07/10/2003)
A recent study of 5-15 year olds in Britain reveals that children who are young for their year don't do as well educationally as older kids.
http://www.abc.net.au/health/minutes/stories/s961413.htm

UNDERSTANDING MENTAL ILLNESS (Perspective: 06/10/2003)
Each year around six per cent of Australians suffer from a depressive disorder, ten per cent from an anxiety disorder, eight per cent from an alcohol or drug problem, and one per cent from a severe mental illness. Professor Anthony Jorm, from the Centre for Mental Health Research at ANU, discusses the prevalence of mental health problems in your community.
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/perspective/stories/s958345.htm

PROFESSOR FIONA STANLEY (Enough Rope: 06/10/2003)
In May, Australian of the Year Professor Fiona Stanley was a guest on the show, and what she had to say about Australia being a toxic society and the effect this has on our kids shocked viewers. We put out a challenge to advertising agencies to an overwhelming response, and here are the results.
http://www.abc.net.au/enoughrope/stories/s961001.htm

MENTAL HEALTH BEHIND BARS (All In The Mind: 05/10/2003)
A new groundbreaking study of the mental health of NSW prison inmates paints a very bleak picture. But what comes first, the mental illness or the crime? A report on what is happening in the minds of people behind bars and how are their mental health needs being met.
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/science/mind/s956971.htm

STAYING WELL WITH MENTAL ILLNESS (Perspective: 02/10/2003)
People with a mental illness are often associated with deviance, unemployment and substantial suffering. There is a lot of publicity about the high rates of suicide, substance abuse, criminal behaviour and divorce, but considerably less awareness about those sufferers who manage to stay well.
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/perspective/stories/s958209.htm

OCKHAM'S RAZOR: Australia's Mental Health
Sunday, 12 October, 8.45am, Radio National
Professor Rob Morrison of Flinders University looks at how mental health research dollars can be spent cost-effectively.
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/science/ockham/

New Research from the Search Institute:
Boosting Student Achievement: New Research on the Power of Developmental Assets
The Bottom Line:
New studies suggest that developmental assets play a significant role in students' academic achievement across a wide range of students. In fact, developmental assets appear to have as much or more influence on student achievement as other demographic factors and school reform strategies. Thus, building developmental assets has great promise as a strategy for boosting student achievement.
http://www.search-institute.org/research/Insights/index.html