Lifeline Australia's E-Newsletter

November 2005

CEO Message

The recent months have been a time of great achievement and recognition for Lifeline including a range of awards for outstanding performance. Such achievement and recognition is a testament to hard work and commitment of so many.

During September, Lifeline was represented at the XXIII World Congress - International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) in South Africa. The conference provided an opportunity to present on the work of Lifeline in the area of suicide prevention and awareness and to represent the Australian Governments National Suicide Prevention Strategy (LIFE). Of historical significance was the signing of an agreement with two other international helpline organisations to form an International Network. This signing was acknowledged by the World Health Organisation as a great step forward in providing emotional support utilising telecommunications technology throughout the world.

Another key event was the launch of the Mental Health Council of Australia’s Not For Service Report. The report has prompted a renewed interest in the government’s priorities around mental health issues. Lifeline was also represented at the launch of World Mental Health Day in Canberra on 10th October 2005.

 

Dawn Smith
CEO

International MOU signing

The XXIII World Congress - International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) in South Africa saw LifeLine International and in turn Lifeline Australia, strengthen its relationships with other key telephone counselling services from around the world.

A memorandum of understanding was entered into by LifeLine International, Befrienders Worldwide and International Federation of Telephone Emergency Service (IFOTES). These three organisations formed an international network - Volunteer Emotional Support Helplines (VESH).

The signing of the agreement was attended by the World Health Organisation who gave official support to VESH as providers of vital helpline services which support not only those who are suicidal but also those in general emotional distress worldwide.

 

Lifeline CEO Finalist in Equity Trustees’ Not For Profit CEO Award.

Lifeline Australia’s CEO Dawn Smith was a finalist for a Not For Profit CEO Award in the 2005 Equity Trustees’ Not For Profit CEO Awards.

Nominees came from organisations throughout Australia and recognised the outstanding achievements of chief executives working in the Not For Profit and charitable sector.

The awards were presented in conjunction with Philanthropy Australia’s second international conference in Melbourne on 11th October.

This is a fantastic achievement and recognises the hard work and passion that Dawn has demonstrated in her role as CEO of Lifeline Australia.

Gordon Moyes - Long Term Achievement Award

The Superintendent of the Wesley Mission Sydney won a long term achievement award for leading a Not-For-Profit organisation in the 2005 Equity Trustee’s CEO Awards.
The Rev Dr Gordon Moyes has been head of the Wesley Mission for 27 years and through his clear direction, determination and strength of character he has shaped the Mission into one of Australia’s leading charities — helping more than 222,000 people annually.

Under Dr Moyes’ direction, the Wesley Mission was one of the first not for profit organisations to implement a triple bottom line reporting structure and quality assurance system, helping to raise supporter confidence, reducing overheads and increasing care provision.

Lifeline Director wins Northern Territory Telstra Business Woman of the Year

Phyllis Nicoll, Director of Lifeline Central Australia was awarded NT Telstra Business Woman of the year in the Hudson Community and Government Award (employees of government departments, statutory bodies and not for profit organisations). The award is a testament to the hard work that Phyllis continues to undertake in her role at Lifeline Central Australia.

Phyllis manages the organisation's staff, volunteers and resources and oversees its mental health and suicide prevention programs. Since Phyllis has taken on the role the organisation has trained more than 70 volunteers and held many community workshops and training programs in remote communities.

Well done Phyllis!

Launch of the Suicide Prevention Toolkit

http://www.rehame.com/printclips/2005-08-24/NSWSOUCOA/P7296677.pdf

Lifeline’s Just ask has developed a number of self-help toolkits on a range of mental health and trauma related issues. The toolkits are an excellent resource and are distributed to callers to the Just ask service, community groups, professional bodies, schools, and at industry events.

In August, the latest addition the ‘Toolkit for Helping Someone at Risk of Suicide’ was launched. The toolkit was developed in response to community requests for information that was previously unavailable on practical ways to help family members, friends and colleagues who may be at risk of suicide.

The toolkit provides practical and straightforward information on behaviours displayed by people who may be at risk of suicide, ways in which family members, friends and professionals can provide help and support to people who may be considering suicide. It also includes a comprehensive list of resources for accessing professional help and further information. The toolkit has been endorsed by the Illawarra Institute for Mental Health of Wollongong University.

The toolkit is available on the Just ask website www.justask.org.au.

New Lifeline sub-centre launched in Peel, WA

Congratulations to Lifeline WA who successfully launched a new Centre in Peel on the 14th October 2005.

The centre will provide much needed support to the Peel region and meet the growing demand for community services. The Peel region has four per cent of the State’s population and 18 per cent of the calls to Lifeline’s 13 11 44 number originate from Peel.
The new centre will give Lifeline the capacity to answer 4500 more calls.

The centre has strong support from the local community and will be fully sustained by the Peel community to establish and maintain the service.

Peel is an area of significant growth and lacks many essential services so Lifeline has been enthusiastically welcomed. Well done to all involved.

Suicide Bereavement Workshops – American expert Dr. Frank Campbell visits Australia

In August this year, Dr. Frank Campbell, a renowned American suicidologist, came to Australia to present a series of suicide postvention workshops and presentations organised by Lifeline Australia and the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing.

Dr. Campbell’s innovative Local Outreach to Suicide Survivors (LOSS) program, is currently being effectively implemented in the USA, and has made a difference to hundreds of suicide survivors.

Dr. Campbell conducted full-day workshops in Melbourne and then Sydney and his visit also coincided with the launch of a new National Bereavement Reference Group in Canberra.

World Mental Health Day 2005 launch in Canberra

Lifeline Australia CEO, Dawn Smith, in her role as Deputy Chair on the Mental Health Council of Australia spoke at the launch of World Mental Health Day in Canberra on 10th October 2005.

Lifeline Australia staff were there to help launch The Mental Health Council of Australia’s Be Active For Your Mental Health campaign. The campaign offers ways for people help each other create a ‘sense of belonging’. It also encourages people to use their mental and physical muscles to stay mentally healthy.

The Hon. Christopher Pyne, Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing, officially launched World Mental Health Day 2005 at an event attended by many other politicians, both local and Federal.

To learn more about the Be Active for Your Mental Health Campaign, visit the Mental Health Council of Australia's website www.mhca.org.au.

Launch of National Mental Health Report

Not For Service: Experiences of Injustice and Despair in Mental Health Care in Australia is the most significant report produced on mental health care in Australia in over a decade. It was developed by the Mental Health Council of Australia, the Brain and Mind Research Institute in association with the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. The report was launched in Sydney on 19th October by The Hon Tony Abbott, Minister for Health and Ageing

In 1992 all Australian Governments initiated the National Mental Health Strategy to correct decades of neglect and assure the rights of people with mental illness.

In 1993, the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission's National Inquiry into the Human Rights of People with Mental Illness ('Burdekin Report') exposed the devastating personal consequences of grossly inadequate mental health and welfare services.

Despite 12 years of national effort, this report captures the persisting, distressing and daily experiences of inadequate mental health and community care. It details personal stories of people with mental illness, and their families and carers. Such stories are often excluded from other national reports.

The report also includes the strong views of doctors, nurses, psychologists and other professionals who provide mental health services in Australia. To read a summary of the report go to www.mhca.org.au.