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 - (Oct 23, 2006)

COPMI Project Update - (Oct 23, 2006)

COPMI Initiative Phase 3?

The national COPMI initiative (Phase 2) is currently funded via the Australian Government National Suicide Prevention Strategy and the COPMI project team recently applied for further funding from this source to continue and expand our work in this area. The submission for further funding was unsuccessful, however, discussions are continuing with representatives from the Department of Health and Ageing Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Programs Branch (Children and Youth section) and other funding possibilities are being explored.

New DVD Resource

As advised via the COPMI e-list, many of this year's Hope Awards short film competition finalists included parental mental illness within their topics. The winning entry in the Documentary section was 'Matthew Heath', and tells the story of a young boy whose father lives with bi-polar disorder. In his own words Mathew tells of the challenges his family has faced in coming to terms with his father's mental illness.
A compilation of the eight short-listed finalists is now available on DVD available on request for not-for-profit community education. Visit http://www.hopeawards.com.au for more information or call Neil Wildman or Rachel Harris on 02 9325 4444 to request copies (free of charge) for educational purposes.

Consistent Data Collection re Parental Status

Advice is currently being sought from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare National Data Development and Standards Unit to enable data to be collected consistently across Australia regarding parental mental illness. All States and Territory Mental Health Departments have been asked to advise what current data collection occurs (if any) regarding parents with mental illness and their children.

Elizabeth Fudge
Project Manager,
COPMI Initiative
Ph (08) 8161 6859
Fax (08) 81616983
fudgee@aicafmha.net.au
PO Box 387, Stepney SA 5069
http://www.copmi.net.au