Project update on our regional plan for wellbeing

Brisbane North PHN and Metro North Hospital and Health Service have sponsored the development of a plan to improve mental health, suicide prevention and alcohol and other drug treatment services in the region.

The regional plan sets out the challenges facing us and what we can all do over the next few years to improve the quality, coordination and integration of services.

As part of the implementation of the plan, five agencies are funded by the PHN to drive actions against the plan relating to ‘Sustaining good mental health’ and ‘Responding to diversity’. These activities—to be completed by 30 June 2021— include a Carers Mental Health and Wellbeing Expo and Mental Health awareness for culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

Read more about each of the activities below:

1. Carers Mental Health and Wellbeing Expo – Carers Queensland

Carers Queensland held the annual Mental Health and Wellbeing expo on Wednesday 24 March at Eatons Hill Hotel and Function Centre, with over 28 stall holders and a variety of wonderful speakers participating on the day. Carers Queensland welcomed a variety of attendees including carers, persons with lived experience of mental health, community members and organisational representatives.

The day was well attended, with the aim of the event to raise awareness of mental health, increase awareness of services while providing networking opportunities to those working within the sector.

2. Co-designed service model to improve physical health and wellbeing – QAMH and Dr Justin Chapman QIMRB

The aim of this project is to conduct co-design focus groups with mental health staff and consumers, carers and families in North Brisbane to design a service model to improve the physical and mental health and wellbeing of people with mental health issues.

To inform the design of a service model, we will facilitate 10 co-design workshops. Workshops will include people accessing mental health services, family and carers, and mental health staff in the North Brisbane region.

To date we have run seven co-design workshops across the region, with some common themes emerging, which will help to inform the co-designed service mode.

3. Yellow Tick Initiative – Queensland Council for LGBTI Health

The Queensland Council for LGBTI Health has been funded by the Brisbane North PHN to implement the new Yellow Tick initiative within the organisation, to support better outcomes and services for intersex people.

The Yellow Tick is a community led initiative that assists groups to develop intersex inclusive and affirmative practices for programs, clients and staff. Through providing a policy and program review service alongside training and intersex specific resources, the Yellow Tick helps improve consistency and accountability to learn more and make services more intersex inclusive.

4. Mental Health awareness for culturally and linguistically diverse communities – Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland (ECCQ)

ECCQ aims to run two key activities to assist culturally and linguistically diverse communities to increase their knowledge and understanding of mental health, alcohol and other drugs, suicide prevention and related services.

A free online interpreter workshop for community members and leaders will be held in early April to increase knowledge of how to confidently engage and access interpreter services, the importance of qualified interpreters and consumer rights.

The second activity aims to provide free Mental Health First Aid training for community leaders. This training will help provide community leaders with knowledge, education and skills to support family members, friends and community members.

5. Volunteer Community Peer Navigators – Council on the Ageing (COTA) Queensland

Council on the Ageing (COTA) Queensland and Moreton Bay Regional Council are partnering to pilot a volunteer community peer navigator program at the Bribie Island library. The program aims to empower older people and their carers to access relevant services and supports and gain confidence in using technology to maintain their mental and social wellbeing and adapt to changing circumstances.

Peer navigators are located in the Bribie Island library one day per week (Tuesdays) at a pop-up table and actively engage in one-to-one meaningful conversations with individuals. By listening with empathy to their story, peer navigators identify the specific needs and priorities of older people and their carers, and direct them to the most appropriate services and supports, including healthcare, social, cultural and community services and supports.

The program was launched at the Bribie Island library on Monday 15 March 2021 and was attended by Division 1 Councillor Brooke Savige. Sessions will commence on Tuesday 13 April 2021 from 10.00 am to 6.00 pm.

Further information

For any information on these Planning for Wellbeing project updates, please contact Kathy Faulkner at Kathy.Faulkner@brisbanenorthphn.org.au.