Backpack Healthcare’s Post

As we close out #MentalHealthMonth and #WHA77, we recognize that mental health care is a core component of universal health coverage. PATH is dedicated to making these services accessible and effective for all. Here’s how we're making a difference in mental health outcomes around the globe: ✅ Integrating mental health services into #PrimaryHealthCare systems, so vulnerable populations can access them more easily. ✅Launching One-Stop Shops that combine HIV services with mental health self-screening, on-site counseling, and referrals. ✅Supporting #MaternalMentalHealth through programs that provide mental health screening and counseling as part of routine postnatal and antenatal care. ✅Co-creating context-specific interventions with youth, for youth, to increase mental health literacy and build self-care skills. ✅Creating safe spaces, peer support programs, and specialized services for young women and violence survivors. ✅Assisting with the technical integration of mental health services in urban primary health care settings. ✅Strengthening mental health support in conflict-affected areas, with a focus on health workers, children, and families. Let's keep working together with communities, partners, and ministries of health to educate and advocate for mental health care. Read more about our approach: https://lnkd.in/eM9MAKW5

Human rights are the foundation for good mental health. Denial of these rights often leads to trauma and distress. Here's why they matter: 🏠 Economic and Social Rights: Secure housing, education, and health are the foundations for a good life. Without them, mental well-being is compromised. 🚫 Civil and Political Rights: Protecting us from government overreach and discrimination ensures our mental health is not jeopardised by external pressures. ♿ Disability-Specific Rights: These ensure people with disabilities enjoy their rights equally, fostering an inclusive community and support systems. Disability as well as civil and political rights frameworks underpin the need to eliminate coercion from mental health services. 🧑🤝🧑 Indigenous Rights: Honouring the survival, dignity, and well-being of Indigenous peoples is crucial in response to the impacts of dispossession and colonisation. 🌍 Future Frameworks: The right to a healthy environment may soon join the list, underscoring its importance to our collective mental health and prosperity. Human rights aren't just abstract concepts—they're essential tools for building a community that supports mental health. Fulfilling these rights enhances the quality of our mental health systems. But at a foundational level, they reduce our reliance on mental health systems by instead addressing the social and commercial determinants of mental distress in the first place. Want to dive deeper? Subscribe to Politics in Mind to learn more: https://lnkd.in/gG-dyT2M #HumanRightsMatter #MentalHealthAwareness

This should underpin everything we do.

Attention NSW folks with lived experience of mental health challenges! BEING - Mental Health Consumers is excited to launch a longitudinal survey into human rights. As an organisation passionate about the human rights of mental health consumers, BEING is curious about where NSW is doing well against Australia's human rights obligations for consumers, and where we could do better. Through this survey, we hope to address that. By taking just 7 minutes to complete the survey, you will help BEING understand where and how your human rights may have been breached in the last 12 months. The data collected will be used to benchmark and track progress over multiple years, shining a spotlight on the progress NSW is making (or not making) in meeting the human rights obligations agreed by Australia at a national level. With this information, BEING can advocate for positive change. Join us in making a difference and take the survey now: https://lnkd.in/gyaZWQby. #humanrights #socialjustice #mentalhealth #mentalhealthmatters #mentalhealthrecovery Grenville Rose Simon Katterl Simon Craddock GAICD Tim Heffernan Heidi Keevers William Woods Rachael Laidler Rashid Flewellen Joel MacKay Samantha Aldridge

🌟 Big News! 🌟 🗣️ Your Voice Matters! The government is seeking YOUR advice to improve the lives of autistic Australians! Here's what you need to know: 🧩 *Autism Strategy Draft Released*: A new draft national autism strategy aims to transform lives, promoting inclusion and support for autistic individuals. 🔍 *Four Key Areas Identified*: The strategy focuses on social inclusion, economic inclusion, diagnosis, services, and support, as well as health and mental health. 🤝 *Your Input Needed*: The government seeks community feedback before finalizing reforms. Make your voice heard! 🎉 *Historic Moment*: Co-chair Clare Gibellini emphasizes the strategy's person-centered, strengths-focused approach, guided by lived experiences. 👂 *Time to Listen*: It's time to acknowledge and celebrate autistic identities. Let's work together to foster understanding and support. 💡 *Why is this Strategy Needed?*: Autistic Australians face significant challenges, including poor outcomes and lack of consistent support nationwide. 📈 *Moving Forward*: The government plans to develop an action plan in collaboration with the autistic community, aiming for release by the end of 2024. 📣 *Have Your Say!*: Public consultation is open until May 31, 2024, via the DSS Engage website. Your feedback is crucial! Let's join hands and create a brighter future for autistic Australians! #GenCare #AutismAwareness #CommunityVoice

🌟 Advocating for Change! 🌟 Hopewell and fellow agencies in the Developmental Services sector play a vital role in the community care model for those with developmental disabilities. 🤝 However, we're often overlooked in the Ontario government's annual budget. 📢 Hopewell has actively participated in the 2024 Pre-Budget consultations, and we urge you to read our submission:https://buff.ly/3udVbLP Despite our impactful contributions, base funding for our sector hasn't seen an increase since 2018. Meanwhile, other similar sectors have experienced substantial growth: 📈 5% increase in base funding for community-based mental health and addiction service providers. 📈 Public health agencies saw a 16% increase between 2018 and 2023. 📈 All public hospitals in Ontario received a minimum 2% funding boost for 2023-2024. We are the backbone of community well-being, ensuring people stay healthy, safe, and enjoy a better life. It's time for our essential work to be respected and recognized! 💙 #SupportDevelopmentalServices #BudgetEquality #HopewellAdvocates

Mental Health Awareness Month continues, and today we focus on PHP grantee partner: Voces Juveniles para la Salud Mental (Juvenile Voices for Mental Health).   The project is led by Stoneleigh Foundation Emerging Leadership Fellow, Eduardo Burgos Quezada, in partnership with Nationalities Service Center. PHP funded two young co-researchers working on the project: Monica Ocampo and Jorge Reyes. Voces Juveniles para la Salud Mental centers the experiences of Latinx immigrant families to re-imagine behavioral health care for immigrant youth in Philadelphia.   The goal is to address structural and cultural barriers experienced by immigrant youth – such as legal status, financial pressures, and language access issues – that increases risks of poor behavioral and mental health outcomes. The project focus includes: ·        increasing awareness of behavioral health resources available to immigrant and refugee youth and gaps in service provision ·        assessing available interventions for culturally and linguistically appropriate services ·        examining evidence-based models and practices   Research findings will inform actionable recommendations for Philadelphia’s behavioral health care system.   Learn more about how Voces Juveniles para la Salud Mental is elevating youth voice and leadership to improve the well-being of Philadelphia’s immigrant youth and their families. Visit: https://lnkd.in/gWKQd9UV #mentalhealthawareness #granteepartner #healthequity #immigranthealth #philadelphia

✨Autistic Voices Report captures local people's lived experiences✨ 📌The report reveals 💡Some of the challenges and long journeys that autistic people have faced to get diagnosed and find support 💡Highlighting very lengthy waits for assessments of three to five years. 💡One person said it had taken a decade to get their diagnosis because of the many barriers to getting help. 💡The difficulties autistic people experience in getting reasonable adjustments to help them stay in work and access health care. 💡How people have felt dismissed, excluded and misunderstood – with some suffering in silence for years. 📌Recommendations include 🌱Easier access to the diagnostic service Shorter waiting times for assessments and diagnosis 🌱More awareness of female autism 🌱Making sure healthcare staff better understand the needs of autistic people 🌱Better identification and treatment for autistic people’s mental health problems 🌱More support after diagnosis to give autistic people help with education, training, work, benefits and independent living 🌱Clear and up-to-date information on autism, local services and support – in digital and offline formats. Find the full report here 👇 https://lnkd.in/eTbYMCnF ✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨✨ 🔥#LivedExperience #Leadership #MentalHealth #Workplace #Peer #CoProduction 🔔 Follow the Lived Experience Advisory Directory's daily updates here👇 https://lnkd.in/eJgjnMew 💡The Lived Experience Advisory Directory. Connecting the Lived and Living Experience workforce with opportunity, knowledge and support. 💬 Info@livedexperienceleaders.com 🌱https://lnkd.in/gn2Swjc9 ☕ We are having a well-deserved break from Dec-Feb from meetings to catch up on all the exciting developments in 2023, recoup and regroup for the next phase of LEAD. ✨Much of our posts will be scheduled, so thanks for understanding if we take our time in responding. And as ever thank you for supporting us to get where we are today! 🙏

A POSTnote summarising proposed reforms to the Mental Health Act 1983, including research evidence and stakeholder views on the impacts on autistic people and people with a learning disability (link to full report on webpage):