The Disability Information and Resource Centre

Navigate Mental Health in partnership with Siblings Australia is currently seeking expressions of interest for a sibling support group for young people aged 13-16.

The program will look at supporting the needs of siblings of young people impacted by mental illness and include activity based support designed to meet their needs.

The group will be run in the April school holidays over two days from 9am – 3pm.

For more details please see the flyer.

Please contact Navigate on 8159 1400 or Toll Free on 1800 809 304 to register interest before February 26th 2010.

At the Adelaide Fringe this year Neami will display an art exhibition entitled Familiar.

The exhibition will showcase new work by artists who access Neami and their partner organisations’ studio programmes across South Australia.

The exhibition will be a group presentation of visual artwork inspired by aspects of the familiar.

Lisa Philip-Harbutt, Director of the Community Arts Network will open the exhibition on Thursday February 18th at 5pm.

Location

School of Practical Philosophy
Crosby Hall
69 Prospect Road
Prospect

Dates

February 18th – March 14th.

Times

• Thursday and Fridays 4 – 8pm
• Saturday and Sundays 11am – 5pm

Contact

Alex Bickford NEAMI Arts Coordinator 8240 25 66

Please also view the exhibition flyer.

For immediate release   16 June 2009

SANE Australia today launches a new website – itsallright.org – to support the half a million Australian teenagers affected by mental illness in their family.

Executive Director of SANE Australia Barbara Hocking says, ‘this is often the untold story of mental illness – the impact on teenagers who have a brother, sister or parent with a mental illness such as depression, schizophrenia, bipolar or an anxiety disorder.

‘These teenagers are a high risk group – they’re not only managing the confusion and powerlessness of a family member’s mental illness but, without support, are also more likely to experience mental illness themselves. This can be a vicious circle that can be difficult to escape. Many may feel they are the only ones this is happening to and that they cannot ask for help.’

itsallright.org aims break this cycle by giving control back to teenagers through information and reassurance. The website centres on the stories of four teenagers, told through online diary entries, who have a family member with a mental illness. The website also provides factsheets and podcasts about mental illness and treatment as well as an online helpline for teenagers to ask their own questions or seek support.

Ms Hocking says, ‘itsallright.org aims to help these teenagers regain control and feel less isolated. The website was built specifically for teenagers and has been designed to help them access the information they want, in a format they want.’

A recent study* by the Australian Bureau of Statistics found that one in five Australians had a mental disorder within a one-year period, leading SANE to estimate that half a million teenagers are managing the impact of the mental illness of a brother, sister or parent every year.

The impact on teenagers with mental illness in the family can be profound: often leaving them feeling distressed and isolated. They often experience confusion, loneliness, shame, embarrassment, or guilt. Their home life may be impacted by poverty, periods of homelessness or the hospitalisation for their relative.

Features of itsallright.org:

• A key feature of the service is the stories of four teenagers with a family member affected by mental illness: Sarah, Rani, Jenna and Brett. The characters are based on the real-life experience of teenagers who helped create the site.
• An online helpline for teenagers to ask questions about mental illness and related topics
• Factsheets on everything from antidepressants to suicide prevention, cannabis and psychosis; family support to treatment and recovery
• Podcasts which provide information about the full range of mental health problems and treatment.

* National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing: Summary of Results, 2007 (Australian Bureau of Statistics)

News Release

Hon Michael Atkinson

Attorney-General

Minister for Justice

Thursday, 17 July 2008

www.ministers.sa.gov.au

HEALTH EXPERT TO HELP THE VULNERABLE

The Attorney-General Michael Atkinson has announced the appointment of leading health expert Dr John Brayley as Public Advocate. Dr Brayley will start his five-year appointment on Monday, taking over from John Harley, who resigned earlier this year after serving nine years as Public Advocate.

“Dr Brayley is a perfect fit for this demanding but rewarding position,” Mr Atkinson said.

Dr Brayley is a Senior Lecturer in Psychiatry at Flinders University and a consultant for health services in S.A. and interstate. He was formerly the Director of Mental Health in S.A’s Department of Health and the Chief Adviser in Psychiatry to the Mental Health Minister. For the past year, he’s been an honorary adviser to the Social Inclusion Board.

The Public Advocate is an independent official who can advise people with a mental incapacity on their rights and provide them with representation.

“Dr Brayley is noted for promoting the interests of vulnerable people, their families and carers. For more than a decade, he’s been a strong ally for those facing mental illness, disability and homelessness,” Mr Atkinson said.

In addition to giving one-on-one help, the Advocate reviews programs and systems in the Government, non-Government and community sectors to identify improvements that can be made.

“The Rann Government is drastically reforming the mental health system to achieve better outcomes for individuals and the public. Dr Brayley’s knowledge of those changes and his ample experience in the health sector will be instrumental in reaching those goals,” Mr Atkinson said.

At the centre of Dr Brayley’s work will be ensuring dignity for people who are disadvantaged as a result of mental illness or disability.

“Often, people with a mental incapacity fall through the gaps because they don’t get the support they need to make important decisions. This can leave them even more vulnerable and disconnected from society,” Dr Brayley said.

“I see this role as a chance to connect people to the support that’s available whether it be guiding them through processes or paving the way for change,” “I’d like to thank Mr Harley for his hard work as Public Advocate and wish Dr Brayley all the best in his efforts to help the most vulnerable South Australians,” Mr Atkinson said.

For further information contact Jayne Stinson on 8207 1738 or 0458 547 512