Fact sheet:
Mental health services for people of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds
Over a quarter of a million first-generation adult Australians from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds are estimated to experience some form of mental disorder in a 12-month period, based on the findings of the National Survey of Mental Health and Well Being.
Suicide Prevention Australia, in their 2017 position paper on CALD communities, noted that generally suicide rates of migrants mirror those of their home countries.
A significant number of people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds do not seek help for their mental health problem or are reluctant to do so. Often, they miss out on suicide prevention services because information is not available in community languages, or there is no culturally appropriate service available.
They may also find it difficult to use mainstream services because of language and cultural barriers. They may be confused about how services operate, or simply be unaware of the range of services and supports that are available.
The government funds a range of mental health services and programmes for people from CALD backgrounds.
Mental Health in Multicultural Australia project
The Mental Health in Multicultural Australia (MHiMA) project is funded by the Department of Health to facilitate a national focus on mental health and suicide prevention for people from CALD backgrounds.
The aim of this project is to improve the accessibility and quality of mental health services for people from CALD backgrounds by supporting mental health service providers to improve cultural responsiveness and accessibility of mental health services.
The Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) and the National Ethnic Disability Alliance (NEDA) are part of the MHiMA governance arrangements and are working with Mental Health Australia (MHA), the MHiMA project lead.
The Framework has been developed to assist organisations and individual workers to evaluate their cultural responsiveness and enhance their delivery of services for CALD communities.
Special Issues of Migration to Australia
Several studies have reported on the psychological trauma experienced by migrants during the migration process. Emerging evidence shows that this distress often continues after migration, with subsequent impacts on both mental and physical health.
Migrants and refugees from multicultural and diverse communities often report struggling with lifestyle challenges during settlement, including increasing anxiety about changes in visa conditions; financial and family responsibilities; loss of social capital post migration; a lack of supportive social capital upon settlement; and stress due to relational conflicts and consequent physical and verbal violence.
These issues can lead to significant social and emotional isolation, a known trigger for poor mental health
It's important women from multicultural backgrounds have safe spaces to talk.
What is Mental Health Literacy?
The term 'mental health literacy' refers to knowledge and beliefs about mental health problems that aid their recognition, management or prevention.
Mental health literacy includes:
- Ability to recognise mental health problems
- Knowledge of where to seek information
- Knowledge of risk factors
- Knowledge of self-treatment
- Knowledge of professional help available
- Attitudes that promote recognition or appropriate help-seeking
Signs of Unstable Mental Health
Feeling excessively high
- The person might seem manic, or overly happy or excited. They might make impulsive decisions or spend large amounts of money that they can't afford.
Neglect and performing less well
- You may notice that a friend or relative seems less capable than they used to be. They might be doing poorly at school or work and not fulfilling their responsibilities. They might have stopped caring about their appearance or taking care of personal hygiene. They may have trouble with remembering things or focusing on a task.
High risk behaviour
- Dangerous driving or crime — this could indicate a mental health problem. Seek help straight away. If a friend or relative starts participating in risky activities — such as unprotected sex, substance abuse.
Feeling depressed or unhappy
- Feeling depressed may include feeling sad, irritable or numb, lacking in motivation and energy or being teary all the time. It may include losing interest in a hobby or not enjoying things that you usually enjoy.
Emotional outbursts
- Everyone has different moods at different times, but sudden and dramatic changes in mood, such as extreme distress or anger, can be a symptom of mental illness.
Sleep problems
- Changes to a person's sleep patterns could be a symptom of a mental health disorder. This includes insomnia or sleeping too much. Some people might sleep all day and be up all night.
Weight or appetite changes
- For some people, eating more or less than usual, weight gain or rapid weight loss could be a warning sign of a mental health disorder.
Being quieter or more withdrawn than usual
- Withdrawing from life, especially if this is major change from your usual personality, could indicate a mental health disorder.
- If a person is isolating themselves and refusing to join in social activities, they may need help.
Substance abuse
- Using substances to cope, such as alcohol or drugs, can be a sign of mental health problems. Using substances can also cause mental illness.
THESE SIGNS CAN LEAD TO SELF HARM
- Thoughts like 'I'm a failure', 'It's my fault' or 'I'm worthless' are all possible signs of a mental health disorder. Your friend or loved one may need help if they're often criticising or blaming themselves for things not in their control.
- Suicidal thoughts
- With some mental health problems, a person may express a desire to hurt or kill themselves. They may have harmed themselves or be thinking about ways to die. Some people may have thoughts of harming others.
- If someone is suicidal or planning to harm themselves or others, they need urgent help. Do not ignore this — call triple zero (000) and ask for an ambulance.
Do NOT try to “fix” this person. Refer to the Professionals
Bizarre or strange thoughts
Someone might have a mental health problem if they think that:
- they have a special power
- someone else is controlling their thoughts or actions
- people are out to get them (with no reason why this would be true)
- they can see or hear things that other people can't
How to begin conversations about mental health?
One of the most important conversations you may ever have could be with someone facing a mental health problem or mental health crisis.
Building a genuine connection with a person by listening, empathising, and offering support can improve the immediate situation and provide the starting point for further help seeking.
Every Conversation You have will be Different
Factors such as:
- Your relationship with the person
- The problem they are experiencing
- Individual characteristics such as age, gender, culture, beliefs and values, can play a role in how the person engages with the conversation
- The person’s access to professional help and other supports including family and friends is also relevant, both during and after the conversation
How to Have a Conversation
- The most important thing you can do is to listen without judging, respect his/her decisions, and help to find ways to become stronger and safer.
- Listen to what she/he has to say.
- Believe what she/he tells you. It will have taken a lot for he/him to talk to you. People are much more likely to cover up or downplay their thoughts.
- Help her/him to recognise and understand how their mental health may be affecting his/ her children.
- Help her to think about what she/he can do and how you can help her/him to achieve it.
- Organise practical assistance like minding the children for a while, cooking a meal for her/him, offering transport.
- Respect her right to make her own decisions, even if you don’t agree with them. Respect her/his cultural or religious values and beliefs.
- Maintain some level of regular contact with her/him. Having an opportunity to talk regularly to a supportive friend or relative can be very important.
- Tell her about the services available. Provide a phone number for a support organisation. Remind her that if she calls a service, she can remain anonymous and get support and information, they won’t be pressure.
- Keep supporting her/him with practical support and encouragement to seek professional help.
Mental First Aid
The Mental Health First Aid recognises that these elements need to be flexible so the conversation can flow naturally.
You can be actively listening, assessing, and providing offers of information and support at different points in the conversation.
You can go back and forth through the steps based on your judgement and the needs of the person you are speaking with.
Raising Awareness
Do’s for a mental health conversation:
- Act on any signs of immediate harm, suicide, or risk of injury
- Be ready, approachable, and engaged
- Approach the person discreetly
- Listen without judgement or pre-conceived ideas and encourage the person to talk freely
- Respect the person’s boundaries and right to privacy
- Repeat things back to show you understand
- Provide information about options for necessary support, if needed
- Go into a mental health conversation acknowledging that it may not go as planned and that the other person may not be ready to talk. If that’s the case, arrange to talk to the person at another time, or get help from other services or people
- Undertake a mental health training or refresher course
Don’ts for a Mental Health Conversation
- Don’t diminish, downplay, or stigmatise the person’s problem or experiences
- Don’t talk too much, interrupt or forget to listen actively
- Don’t make it about you eg. talking about your own troubles
- Don’t try to solve all their problems or expect to have all the answers
- Don’t try to diagnose the person’s problem
- Don’t take the person’s negative symptoms, emotions, or words personally
- Don’t forget to take care of yourself and your own well-being
- Remember, you don’t have to know all the answers.
Examples of Conversation Starters
- “I’ve noticed you’ve been down lately. If you think it would help to chat, I’m happy to listen. Did you want to come to get a coffee, and we can talk about it now?”
- “You mentioned you weren’t coping well with the work pressures and what’s happening at home. I know you aren’t in the office now, is there a time today we can meet via video or phone?”
- “Are you ok? Shall we grab an empty room in the office, and I’ll sit with you for a bit?”
- “Hey, I know things have been tough lately. Let’s go for a walk and you can tell me about it.”
- “I’m so sorry to hear you’ve been going through that. It sounds hard. Would you like to tell me more.”
This is the Rotary SAFE Families First Aid “3R’s” of abuse prevention which is applicable to mental health issues?
- Recognise signs of mental health issues
- Raise your concerns "Safely" with victim
- Refer victim 000/support FV organisation OR Make the Call Yourself!
The 3R’s can be applied to any form of mental health issues to anyone and any diversity!
Where to seek information?
- If you're concerned about someone, ask them how you can help. The first step for a person with symptoms of a mental health disorder is to see a doctor or other healthcare professional.
- Head to Health — for advice and to get connected to local mental health services, you can call 1800 595 212. Check the operating times.
- Beyond Blue — call 1300 22 4636
- Lifeline 131114
- ReachOut (mental health support for young people online) — online help
- SANE Australia — call 1800 187 263
- If you need more information and support, visit Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia (MIFA) for resources, helplines, apps, online programs and forums.
Embrace Multicultural Mental Health (the Embrace Project) is run by Mental Health Australia and provides a national focus on mental health and suicide prevention for people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds.
It provides a national platform for Australian mental health services and multicultural communities to access resources, link to services and information in a culturally accessible format.
The Embrace Project builds on the important work of previous national multicultural mental health projects - including the MHiMA and the Multicultural Mental Health Australia project - and works towards an equitable mental health system which reflects and responds well to the needs of Australia's multicultural population.
Taken from: https://www.health.gov.au/ For more information, please check this website: She may need practical support and encouragement after she has left the relationship.
