The Disability Information and Resource Centre

A presentation provided under the Mindframe National Media Initiative in partnership with the Mental Health Coalition of SA.

Wednesday 17 August 2011, 1.15pm – 2pm.

The presentation will cover:

• The evidence related to media reporting of suicide and mental illness;
• What you need to know when working with the media about mental illness and suicide;
• An opportunity to ask questions and contribute to the discussion.

RSVP by August 12.

For more information click here.

The July 2011 edition of Diamond Reflections, the newsletter of Diamond House, a service provided by Clubhouse SA is available for download.

Thursday 15 September, 2011 is R U OK?Day. A national day of action that aims to prevent suicide by encouraging Australians to connect with someone they care about and help stop little problems turning into big ones.

Research shows that talking about suicide with someone at risk actually reduces the chance of them taking their own life. It is the one thing we can all do to make a real difference.

For more information see www.ruokday.com.au.

Creative use of electronic media to build a Mental Health community on-line

The Mind Share web site is a project that aims to be a conduct and display for all things arts whilst building an on line community and assisting with stigma reduction through generating digital stories and creating a communications portal via a website for a range of information and interactions on broad topics relevant to mental health, mental illness and well-being.

This project will build skills amongst consumers, carers and non for profit mental health workers in SA by providing training opportunities such as train the trainer, digital storytelling and boot camp film groups. It aims to create opportunities for consumers and others from this sector to produce digital stories and communicate about health and well-being issues, whilst increasing their electronic media literacy and skills.

The overall objective is to increase communication opportunities amongst people with an interest in mental health and well-being and for them in the future to create their own digital stories and content for the website.

The website will host the digital story content generated through the project along with a range of art, poetry, music, prose, blogging, short documentaries, other digital stories submitted, service information, information for the media and much more.

The call is now out for individuals interesting in submitting the following for inclusion on the site in 2011/2012:

• Short stories
• Poetry
• Photographs of art work or photography
• Original musical recordings
• Information about mental health services
• People who are interested in becoming bloggers on the site are also sought

Music, short stories, poetry and images of art work may now be submitted to Tracey Davis at the Mental Health Coalition of SA via mindshare@mhcsa.org.au.

If you have any queries contact Tracey via 8212 8873 or 0406 980 962.

Potential bloggers, musicians, writers should download an application form below or contact Tracey Davis at the MHCSA for a word version to fill out.

Visit www.mhcsa.net/?catID=131

The Mind Share web site will be launched in October at the Mercury Cinemas. It’s url will be www.mindshare.org.au.

This project has been funded by Arts SA and developed by the Media Resource Centre working with Freerange Future.

Speak UP is a music event to promote mental health awareness in our community.

Book through moshtix.

GROW are holding a training weekend at the Aldinga Holiday Park from July 29 to 31 2011.

This weekend is suitable for anyone already attending a GROW group who would like to learn more about how it all works.

It may also be suitable for people interested in finding out more about how GROW works but not yet necessarily attending a group.

For more information click here.

The June 2011 edition of Diamond Reflections, the newsletter of Diamond House, a service provided by Clubhouse SA is available.

The Mental Health Coalition of SA together with the Media Resource Centre are seeking participants to be bloggers on a new site ‘Mind Share’ a Mental Health Community On Line – which will be released during Mental Health Week. They are seeking individuals who are interested in blogging about their views on mental health, events, news, controversy and personal stories. You may also submit blogs from the perspective of being a person with a lived experience of a mental health problem.

They are also seeking poetry and short stories for the site.

The site will open for Mental Health Week on the 9th of October at the Media Resource Centre’s Mercury Cinema’s.

You may participate in the following ways:

• To join up to be a regular blogger on the site (this can be once a week or once every few months).
• To submit original poetry in the form of text to be viewed on the site
• To submit short stories for the site in text format

If you would like to take part please contact Tracey Davis at the MHCSA via mindshare@mhcsa.org.au for an application form.

For further details please also contact Tracey Davis by phone at 8212 8873.

Mental Health Week Exhibition Trail

Register Your Artwork Today

Exhibit in Metropolitan and Rural South Australia during October as part of Mental Health Week. Artists and collectives may exhibit in a variety of locations and also enter to be part of the main exhibitions at the Town Hall and the Bakehouse Theatre.

• Established Artists at The Adelaide Town Hall – opening 15/10/11 at 11am.
• Emerging Artists at The Bakehouse Theatre – opening 10/10/11 at 6pm.
• Artists may submit up to five pieces to the curated exhibitions
• Artists and Organisations may enter a body of work to be exhibited at other sites and locations not just the Town Hall and Bakehouse (variety of venues)
• Prizes are awarded at the curated exhibition in the categories of: Technical Skill, Expression, Experimentation, Wild Card and People’s Choice!
• With judges Steve Donaldson, Daisy and professional artist Chris Wake
• Exhibit along with other talented artists
• Be part of a widely publicised & marketed event
• Open to emerging and established artists

The Mental Health Week Exhibition is open to everyone including Carers, those living with a mental health problem, a disadvantage and the general public. As 1 in 5 of us will experience a mental health problem in any given year the Big Circle is a group that is relevant for us all.

HOW? Complete the Registration form.

WHEN? Entries close: Friday August 19th 2011.

Contact The Big Circle:

T: 8212 8873 F: 8212 8874 E: bigcircle@mhcsa.org.au

Website: www.mhcsa.org.au

1/408 King William Street, Adelaide SA 5000

Mental Health Week: 9-15th October 2011

Finding the right medical practitioner to work with you to support your physical health can be difficult but finding one to work with mental health issues can be even more challenging. The Black Dog Institute has published a fact sheet entitled Finding a Mental Health Friendly GP which provides tips to locating the right person. These include clues to look for in the practice which may gives you signals about the quality of mental health care provided, understanding a doctor’s qualifications, the characteristics of a good mental health assessment and what to expect from a doctor who is helping care for your mental health.

Finding a Mental Health Friendly GP.