Good health and wellbeing in everyone's language
(Mental Health Week – 4-10 October 2009)
Free mental health and wellbeing booklets available in different languages and through local libraries across the New England and North West will be launched during Mental Health Week 2009.
The booklets will be available at regional libraries in Tamworth, Armidale, Tenterfield, Moree, Glenn Innes, Narrabri, Inverell and Warialda.
They are one of a number of transcultural mental health initiatives being launched next week**.
A new Filipino community radio program will also air on Tamworth’s 2YOUFM Community Radio.
Sue Budden, Transcultural Mental Health Field Liaison Officer, who works in mental health promotion for Hunter New England Mental Health, said the initiatives will help support the region’s communities who have come from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
“Mental Health and wellbeing are important issues for the whole community, no matter what background people are from.
“The free library resources focus on the importance of obtaining and maintaining mental health and wellbeing, and encourage communities and individuals to reflect on positive mental health,” Ms Budden said.
“Topics include promoting wellbeing, stress and stress management, problem solving and setting goals, and a good night’s sleep.
“The booklets are available in English as well as in Arabic, Chinese, Farsi, German, Greek, Italian, Spanish, Tagalog and Vietnamese.”
A number of books on mental health topics have also been donated to the regional libraries.
Ms Budden said the books – which explore mental health and wellbeing issues for refugees and young people from different cultures – would be useful for mental health professionals, school counsellors and migrant health workers.
• The region’s Filipino community will benefit from a series of mental health and wellbeing information sessions being run through Tamworth’s 2YOUFM Community Radio.
The mental health program will be aired during the station’s Filipino radio hour on Tuesday evenings and will be delivered in Tagalog, the main language of Filipino communities. 2YOUFM is on frequency 88.9 on the FM radio band.
“The information sessions will look at maintaining positive wellbeing, issues affecting families and children, stress and anxiety and dispelling the myths surrounding mental health and mental illness.”
** The initiatives are part of the Transcultural Rural and Remote Outreach Project. TRROP is a major NSW Health access and equity initiative and is a partnership between Transcultural Mental Health Centre, based in Sydney, the Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health and Hunter New England Health.
Contact: Frances Holz
Phone: 4939 2216