The Victorian Network of Mental Health Promotion Officers (MHPOs) brings together workers from Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services across Victoria. There is one MHPO position for each Mental Health region in the State.
Promoting mental health and addressing suicidal behaviours are broad public health issues, requiring the involvement of many sectors and stakeholders. Adolescence is a time of great opportunity for health promotion and creates opportunities for people such as teachers and youth group leaders who may not see their programs as addressing health issues.
MHPO’s work within their Regions as well as at a Statewide level to facilitate and resource a systemic approach to promoting the mental health of young people. Activities include networking, consultation, education and training.
Click here for more information.
Our calendar page has now been replaced by a news feature which will provide you with regularly updated articles and information about training and workshops, new programs and other information relevant to the mental health and wellbeing of young people.
There is also an opportunity for you to post items directly to the website. Website content
will be approved by your local MHPO and we would encourage you to liaise with them in
placing information on this website.
Any information posted should relate to promoting the mental health and wellbeing of
children and young people in Victoria.
Contact details and the regional pages will continue to be updated on a less frequent
basis to provide you with an overview of MHPO activities around Victoria.
The CAST program is a partnership program between CAMHS Grampians and DE&T (Central Highlands/Wimmera). Initially a three year pilot project, CAST is now a permanent service aimed at the prevention, early identification and treatment of difficult and disruptive behaviours in primary school aged children in Prep, Year 1 and Year 2. The program is funded by the Mental Health Branch of the Department of Human Services Victoria. The CAST model is a community model with the central goal to develop partnerships between key stakeholders, and associations with key others (agencies).
Thirty-four schools agreed to participate in the initial project. The Program is now being offered to other interested schools in the region and typically
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The Festival for Healthy Living is an innovative strategy to promote mental health and emotional well being in schools, using the performing arts. Beginning in 1998, it is an initiative of the Royal Children's Hospital Mental Health Service in partnership with a range of other health, education and arts organisations.
The Festival program addresses the need to enhance mental health and emotional
well-being, promote help-seeking and problem-solving, and destigmatise mental
health problems. It provides an opportunity for students to explore these
issues in a solution-focused way, supported by their teachers and a community
artist. This work culminates in a vibrant event, including student-devised
performances presented at high profile community venues, along with exhibitions
of students' artwork and writing. The performance experience provides individuals
with opportunities to be seen by peers, teachers and families as shining
stars.
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