COPMI Project Update - (Sep 7, 2006)

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

COPMI at TheMHS - feedback from Paola Mason following her attaendance at the TheMHS Conference in Townsville 30th August -1st September 2006

Firstly I would like to thank the COPMI National Project and the Department of Health and Ageing for supporting my presence at this conference. My primary role was as an employee of the COPMI National Project to set up/dismantle, and staff the information booth at the conference. This involved distribution of resources, answering questions and inviting people to participate. Manning the booth was a wonderful avenue to be able to network with some very interesting people and organizations. My secondary role was as Carer and Adult Child of parent with a mental illness.

I found this conference to be overall one of the better conferences I have attended in some time. I believe that TheMHS organizers were wise to take on board the issue of holding a conference in a regional area. This contributed to many smaller groups attending and presenting on local projects. Apart from this it also offered an opportunity to local consumers and carers. During various breaks when I would be networking the overall feedback from other carers and consumers was that it was a very enlightening and engaging conference.

Unfortunately, I was unable to attend as many presentations as I would have initially liked to, but I believe that my role manning the booth offered other delegates the opportunity to ask questions during breaks and, further-more, disclose their concerns. Some of the issues raised when they identified the COPMI booth was "It's great that this is here representing the kids" and "It's important to help parents". It was of particular interest how many individuals were particularly interested in The Best for Me and My Baby. (We had quite a few young women come up to the booth). It was also interesting to note how many delegates from New Zealand were very interested in the resources (I would offer them a pack which included Family Talk, Best for Me and My Baby, Principles and Action Document, Stickers, Reorder forms and the COPMI card) and were keen to link in with the COPMI project.

I was very proud of the number of presentations and awards that I identified as linking to 'copmi' issues. Two projects receiving the MHS Achievement Awards were the VIC Champs & PATS (Paying Attention to Self) Programmes, Victoria, and the Dual Diagnosis Project - Supporting Children and Families Affected by Parental Dual Diagnosis (Mental Illness and Substance Use) NSW. Another award that was mentioned during a presentation by SANE Australia (Reducing Stigma with Young People) was the HOPE Award which was won by a young boy for a short film - his perspective of having a dad with Bi-polar and his family.

Overall, I believe it was important that COPMI maintained a presence at TheMHS by providing resources, offering information and offering a space for parents, carers and workers to share their thoughts and information.