Southern Metropolitan Region
The Southern Region is the largest geographically of the metropolitan regions, covering a diversity of localities inclusive of inner urban, semi-rural & rural communities. The region compromises ten local government areas extending from Port Philip, Stonington, Glen Eira, Bayside, Kingston, Greater Dandenong, Casey, to Frankston, Mornington Peninsula & Cardinia.
Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services
Within the region, are two Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), Southern Health -CAMHS broadly covering Greater Dandenong, Casey, Cardinia, Frankston, Mornington Peninsula & part of Monash & Kingston. Southern Health Mental Health Service - Triage Service, is a 24 Hour 7 days a week service 1300-369012.
Alfred CAMHS covers Port Philip, Stonington, Glen Eira, Bayside & part of Kingston - Monday to Friday office Number is 85520555, After Hours -Alfred Triage 1300-363746. These are the referral numbers for children & young people with mental health problems & issues to access mental health services directly, Please use the MHPO phone number appropriately.
Mental Health Promotion Officer (MHPO) Role.
The MHPO position forms part of service delivery in Southern Mental Health & Alfred CAMHS & the MHPO Key Objectives are to:
- Improve understanding & responsiveness to children's and young people's mental health needs including developing environments which promote resilience and enhance wellbeing.
- Improve community's awareness & access to mental health services.
- Facilitate opportunities for prevention & early intervention of mental health problems through collaboration with primary care, education & community services sectors.
- Enhance the capacity of health, welfare and educational services to respond to the needs of young people at risk of suicide or at risk of developing mental health problems.
Developments within CAMHS & Primary Mental Health
Southern Mental Health & Alfred CAMHS services have formed committee to improve coordination of Mental Health Promotion activities occurring within the services. The state-wide CAMHS project "Partnerships To Better Outcomes", initiatives within the southern region CAMHS has connections with the MHPO in its review of service structure, with its outcomes been a broader secondary consultation service for health, education & community sectors & agencies & greater partnering opportunities to impact positively on well being outcomes for individuals and communities.
As part of Southern mental health service review -The MHPO now forms part of South Eastern Primary Mental Health Team within the mental health program. The MHPO still is continuing partnering with Inner South, Primary Mental Health Team to broaden community linkages & capacity building.
MHPO Projects - Young person & Mental Health - Workers guide
Another initiative that the position has been contributing to the development is a revised edition of the Young person & Mental Health - Workers guide. This project booklet devilment is anticipated being published and launched for southern health by the end 2007.
Southern Network for Wellbeing in Schools
Firstly the origins Southern Network for wellbeing in schools was formed from the MindMatters (MM) reference group developments formed across regions of Vic, to support MindMatters initiative training, education & promotion & uptake of MindMatters within the regions. A MM reference group was also established within Southern also to support the MM aims. Some of the Regional MM reference achievements included coordination of a highly successful, popular Conference on Prevention of Bullying & Harassment, with over 250 people attending from the region, state-wide & interstate. Also the first National Safe Schools Frameworks Forums were hosted with the reference group holding 3 forums for workers within the region.
In 2005 the MM reference group evaluated the regional needs a restructured the reference group to form a new regional network to more accurately reflect the wellbeing issues and scoping the Regional MM reference group had undertook though its strategy over the past years.
The Southern Network for Wellbeing in Schools -launched at the end 2005,(replacing the Regional MindMatters group) & aims include;
- Formation of a virtual resource network linked through MindMatters & this site to link key networks and contacts across the region, topical resources and access points.
- Facilitate working groups and forums on relevant key issues within wellbeing & mental health context across the region.
- Dissemination of information on coordinated approach to the promotion social & emotional wellbeing in school communities.
For other information on the network access newsletter1 For joining Southern Network contact julie.barlow@southernhealth.org.au or access membership form.
Also See: MindMatters website & calendar page for training & events across a varying areas interest in wellbeing & mental health.
For further information on mental health promotion & well being activities across the region: Contact Julie Barlow (03) 9594 1300. Or through email address above.