PEACE Multicultural Services held a ‘Have Your Say’ Forum on 15 June to present the outcomes and insights generated from the mental health consultations held with South Australian culturally and linguistically diverse communities in April and May 2017.
Over 80 community members attended the Forum, which was held at the Cypriot Club in Welland. The SA Mental Health Commissioner, Mr Chris Burns, delivered the opening address and highlighted the importance of the consultation and the need to have an inclusive Mental Health Strategic Plan in South Australia to strengthen the mental health and wellbeing of all South Australians. Enaam Oudih, Practice Manager of PEACE Multicultural Services and her team helped the SA Mental Health Commission by organising 20 community consultations that involved 225 people from 38 different multicultural communities. The consultations focused on several issues including: what mental health and mental illness means to you/your community; what is working well to support mental health and wellbeing and what is not working well; and what needs to be done in the future. The involvement of the communities will help shape the SA Mental Health Strategic Plan.
The event also served as the culmination of the Community Champions Project, which has been creating opportunities for CALD people to contribute to improving the overall health and wellbeing of their communities. Mr Burns presented graduating Community Champions with their certificates and presented special awards to outstanding volunteers.
PEACE has recently launched a campaign, ‘Together we can make a positive change’, that recognises the need for a community wide approach to address issues of stigma and discrimination associated with HIV. This is just one of the ways in which PEACE works with communities to build their capacity and equip them with tools for tackling myths and taboo topics. The ‘Be Part of the Solution’ video was also launched at the event which was produced by PEACE and the South Australian African Communities Health Advisory Committee (SAACHAC). This video challenges the taboo of HIV and encourages people to take a stand in fighting HIV stigma and discrimination in their communities. Watch the video below.
To view photos from the Forum click here.
For more information about PEACE Multicultural Services, please visit here or call (08) 8245 8100.
