Page 672 - Week 02 - Thursday, 21 February 2019
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The ACT Government also continues to support community-based initiatives in relation to men’s mental health through funding programs delivered by Menslink and OzHelp which provide support, education and training and referrals for men in the ACT.
(3) The ACT Government encourages AMSA to reach out to local NGOs, many of whom are funded by ACT Health, to provide targeted services to men regarding their mental health. This includes Menslink who visit organisations in the ACT and the surrounding region to talk about men’s mental health, mental fitness and suicide prevention and Mental Illness Education ACT (MIEACT) who offer education sessions to community groups to assist with understanding of mental health issues and reducing stigma and discrimination.
Men’s Sheds can play a valuable role in encouraging people to seek help for mental health issues by having information on services available on site and encouraging people to talk with their GP who can also assist to manage issues and connect people to services, including low and high intensity counselling funded by the Capital Health Network.
(4) Men’s Sheds play an important role in promoting mental health and wellbeing and may be a key point of contact and connection for men facing a range of mental health challenges. In addition to the NGO’s and primary care services already noted, services are also available through Canberra Health Services, who have recently launched their Access Mental Health phone line (1800 629 354). This line can help with assessment and referral to services, including secondary and tertiary mental health services delivered by Canberra Health Services.
For those men who experience mental illness, Men’s Sheds are encouraged to seek permission to connect with their supports as appropriate and helpful, including family, support services (some may be funded under the NDIS) and clinical services.
The ACT Government has committed $1.545 million from 2018-19 to establish a pilot version of the Black Dog Institute’s LifeSpan Integrated Suicide Prevention Framework in the ACT over the next three years. LifeSpan aims to build a safety net for the community by connecting and coordinating new and existing interventions and programs and building the capacity of the community to better support people facing suicidal crisis. LifeSpan is an evidence-based approach that combines nine strategies for suicide prevention into one community-led approach incorporating health, education, frontline services, business and the community. Men’s Sheds can take advantage of some of the resources offered under LifeSpan such as access to online training called Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) which has been made available free of charge to ACT organisations.
AMSA is also encouraged to continue to apply for community grants offered by the ACT Government for their project and equipment needs.
Children and young people—care and protection
(Question No 2108)
Mrs Kikkert asked the Minister for Children, Youth and Families, upon notice, on 30 November 2018:
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