Responding to Suicide and Suicidality in Working with People from Refugee Backgrounds
People from refugee backgrounds may be at increased risk of suicide due to past traumatic experiences, resettlement stressors, and the prolonged uncertainty of seeking asylum, which includes living in limbo and feelings of hopelessness. This workshop will expand on what is covered on suicide in the Accidental Counsellor workshop and will help you understand the warning signs of suicide in your clients, including subtle changes in behaviour and emotional state, and verbal expressions. Participants will come away with skills to determine the level of risk for suicide, and to prepare a suicide first aid action plan to maximise the safety of the client, including making appropriate referrals.
Refugee Trauma and Addictive Behaviours: Treating Clients Consuming Drugs and Alcohol as a Coping Mechanism
Refugee survivors of torture and trauma have usually experienced cumulative and intense traumas as well as multiple losses in the course of dislocation, migration and resettlement. It follows that refugees can have complex presentations including complex PTSD and prolonged and complicated grief. A sizable group have a comorbid disorder, with the most common comorbidities being depression, anxiety, alcohol addiction, and substance abuse.
In this Clinical Master Class, Professor Katherine Mills will talk about improving our understanding of the relationship between mental and substance use disorders.
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Engaging with multicultural communities to understand and respond to their needs
31st March 2021 | 1:00pm to 2:00pm AEDT
Organisations are increasingly being asked to engage with communities of all backgrounds as a way of ensuring their programs and services are not only effective, but equitable. This webinar will summarise the key principles and practices of community engagement, highlighting things to keep in mind when engaging with multicultural communities. Specifically, it will:
- Explore key strategies, benefits and challenges as described in research evidence
- Share insights and learnings from professionals engaging multicultural communities in designing various projects and services
- Provide recommendations for professionals considering or planning engagements with multicultural communities.
This webinar is of interest to professionals working in community development, local government and health and social services.
Register here
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Virtual support groups for multicultural communities
Mental Health Foundation Australia (MHFA) provides a safe, reliable, and non - judgmental peer to peer mental health support groups for Australians from different backgrounds. The groups focus on the goal of bringing people together who need help and reassurance.
Participants will have the opportunity to listen, share, express feelings, talk about struggles and learn strategies for dealing with day to day life. Support groups supplement the help you may already be receiving.
African Women group - Every 4th Tuesday of the month
23rd March 2021 | 11:00am - 12:30pm
Register here
Pakistani Women group - Every 1st Monday of the month
Visit their website here for more information about other support groups.
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The report highlights that there is not enough support for everyone who needs it. People who need support with their mental health also need different types of support. Such groups include people from a refugee background, asylum seekers, people from culturally diverse backgrounds, and people living with disability. People from these groups face a range of barriers when seeking treatment, care and support. For example, the mental health system does not currently deliver safe, responsive or inclusive care for many people from diverse communities and social groups.
The report also provided recommendation for the Victoria Government.
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Complex Trauma Spotlight Report
Mental health services need to better respond to the needs of people living with complex trauma, new report shows
Australia’s National Centre of Excellence for Complex Trauma, Blue Knot Foundation, in collaboration with BEING – Mental Health Consumers – NSW’s peak independent organisation speaking with and for people with experience of mental health issues and emotional distress have released a Complex Trauma Spotlight Report.
The report is informed by the voices of people living with the mental health impacts of complex trauma i.e., repeated often extreme ongoing interpersonal (between people) trauma. It integrates lived experience evidence with the latest clinical and research evidence to better inform practitioners and services within the mental health and related sectors about complex trauma, its impacts and their relationship to mental distress.
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Australian of the Year 2021: Rosemary Kariuki named Local Hero
Rosemary Kariuki has been recognised for her work as the "multicultural community liaison officer" for the Parramatta Police in New South Wales. Renowned for her smile and good humour, she's been helping victims of domestic violence, not just by dealing with the immediate issues as they arise, often in crisis, but by helping victims find their feet and meet other people, whether in morning teas or in more formal social groups.
Rosemary emigrated from Kenya to Sydney in 1999, carrying only a few hundred dollars, some clothes, and gifts for strangers.
Click here to read more about Rosemary Kariuki's story.
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We would like to remind you of:
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Phoenix Centre Friday Village
Every Friday | 10:00am - 12:00pm
Friday Village is a wellbeing group open to anyone from a multicultural background. Come and meet with others and practise English though fun wellbeing activities.
Upcoming sessions:
19 March: What is self-care? Create your own self-care plan and try some new techniques like journaling with images and colour.
26 March: New beginnings. This time of year marks new beginnings in many cultures. Learn about different celebrations including Amoo Norooz, Nava Varsha and Easter and try some activities connected to Hav Sin including egg painting and dyeing
Numbers are limited. Please register by calling Thir on 6221 0999 or tthapa@mrctas.org.au so we can provide COVID-safe sessions. Click here for more information.
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