Health Promotion

Mental Health Promotion

Strategic Priority - MENTAL HEALTH

Priority Goal 1

Increase mental health literacy and support for drought affected communities

Key action area 1 - Social connectedness

Objectives:

To support and coordinate drought responses for health and community services across Campaspe
To coordinate and implement mental health literacy programs across Campaspe

Campaspe PCP has been supporting members involved in drought action primarily through the Drought Recovery and Support Network. This network has regular participation from drought counsellors from Community Health Services and drought related workers from Centrelink, Department of Primary Industries, CentaCare, CRS Australia, Goulburn Murray Hume AgCare - financial counsellors, local government community development and economic development, Murray Plains Division of General Practice, Kyabram Community and Learning Centre family services and a number of other local practitioners.

This network group has successfully implemented the Shire of Campaspe and Campaspe PCP combined drought action plan. The key initiatives of this plan include;

Coordination and implementation of the Farm Gate Model across Campaspe
Organisation data and statistics /service utilization collection
Increasing mental health literacy through the training programs of 'No Bull' 3 hour training and Mental Health First Aid 12 hour training.
Supporting cross sector coordination and collaboration.

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Priority Goal 2

Reduce harm and impact of problem gambling

Key action area 2 - Problem Gambling

Objectives:

To build capacity to address the harm and impact of problem gambling
Improve mental health literacy and knowledge of determinants of mental health and gambling addictions
To support coordination, promotion, awareness and referral to Gamblers Help program with St Lukes.

The Campaspe PCP Problem Gambling project is an initiative funded by the Department of Justice to all PCPs in Victoria. The Campaspe Murray Mental Health Network (CMMHN) has been delegated the role to oversee local implementation of this initiative from the Campaspe PCP Management Group. The CMMHN developed a health promotion and service coordination workplan that details local strategies which will be implemented during 2010.

Fiona McEniry is this region's Problem Gambling Officer. Fiona is based at Echuca Regional Health and can be contacted on ph: 5485 5800 or email fmceniry@erh.org.au.

Priority Goal 3

Support and encourage social inclusion and connectedness for young males aged 17-25 years

Key action area 2 - Social inclusion

Objectives:

Create opportunities for young males to be connected and engaged to services and supports
Enhance the range of options for social connection activities available in the community
Build the capacity of PCP partners to work towards social inclusion.

This action area will seek to develop links and opportunities for young males in the Campaspe community to participate in community life. Identifying and building capacity of service and recreation providers to better understand and communicate with young people is a central focus of this area. Activities and initiatives will be overseen by the CMMHN and a variety of new partnerships and relationships will be developed to achieve our goal. It is planned that this area will carry over into future planning periods as a long-term commitment to meeting the needs of young men in our community is required.

Priority Goal 4

Support and encourage social inclusion and connectedness for Campaspe's Aboriginal communities

Key action area 2 - Social inclusion

Objectives:

Improve cross-cultural awareness with mainstream/non-indigenous community
Work towards meaningful connections between indigenous and non-indigenous to build strong and effective partnerships
Celebrate diversity and community arts
Build the capacity of PCP partners to work towards social inclusion

Campaspe PCP will continue working with Njernda Aboriginal Corporation in implementing Aboriginal Cross Cultural Awareness training program for staff of mainstream organisations.

Additionally, the Shire of Campaspe and Echuca Regional Health have been continuing their efforts to liaise and collaborate with Njernda Aboriginal Corporation through various initiatives also.

In addition, this goal will seek to broaden our approach to social inclusion by working across arts and cultural programs with the indigenous and wider community to improve the acceptance and understanding of Aboriginal people.