---
title: QMHC eNews May 2024
---

Annual pulse survey; Trauma strategy update; Clubhouse supports quality of life; The Men's Table expands in QLD; boost for perinatal mental healthcare; App tackles racism; New online platform for children's mental health

| View in browser eNews  \|  May 2024 Pulse Survey Our annual Pulse Survey is now open. The survey gathers your feedback on our performance and effectiveness and allows us to identify what we are doing well, as well as areas for improvement.   Your views and opinions will help us understand where and how we can better influence reform of  Subscribe Need help? the mental health, alcohol and other drug, and suicide prevention systems in Queensland. We value your feedback and I encourage you to take a few minutes to participate. Take the survey.   Trauma strategy A warm thank you to everyone who participated in consultations to support the development of a Queensland trauma strategy. More than 800 people across the state gave us their stories, feedback and perspectives on creating a more trauma-informed Queensland. We also thank the many trauma experts who drafted consultation papers that continue to be a valuable resource for understanding the evidence, approaches and practices around trauma care. We look forward to progressing this work for government consideration.    Stepping Stone Clubhouse Evaluation Report Launch I was pleased to attend the Stepping Stone Clubhouse Evaluation Report launch along with Stepping Stone founding members and Joe Kelly MP, Member for Greenslopes.    In 2020, the Queensland Government committed $1.4 million over two years to fund Stepping Stone Clubhouse, a community organisation based in Brisbane for adults living with mental ill-health. The Commission and Queensland Health supported an independent evaluation to examine the social, economic and health impacts of the clubhouse model.    The evaluation report found that existing Stepping Stone Clubhouse members have fewer hospital visits, better social connections and a higher quality of life. Read the full report here.   Agriculture Mental Health and Wellbeing Roundtable I recently attended the Agriculture Mental Health and Wellbeing Roundtable convened by the Honourable Mark Furner MP, Minister for Agricultural Industry Development, Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities.   The Roundtable included leaders across industry and government to identify gaps across the wellbeing and mental health service delivery frameworks, to improve resilience in the agriculture sector in Queensland.   Agricultural industries are the backbone and social fabric of many rural and regional communities in Queensland. We know that rural communities have tremendous knowledge about the challenges and opportunities facing rural people, and how to work together to build wellbeing and social connectivity.   Roundtable participants spoke of the importance of building resilience and the mental health and wellbeing of rural communities, and enhancing the existing good work in communities and service delivery.   It was noted that the Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy, currently in development by Health and Wellbeing Queensland in partnership with the Commission, will have a specific focus on the mental health and wellbeing of rural and remote Queenslanders and communities. This builds on our previous work around rural community wellbeing and preventing farmer suicide.   This was the first Roundtable and I look forward to working with Minister Furner, the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and other stakeholders to create and build on place-based, sustainable and innovative solutions for our agricultural communities.   Youth Summit I also attended the Queensland Family and Child Commission  Youth Summit held during Queensland Youth Week. The Summit gave children and young people a platform to speak directly to government and community leaders on the issues that matter to them. It was great to hear inspiring youth voices across a range of issues, especially on health and mental health. The statistics tell us our children and young people are increasingly experiencing poorer mental health outcomes than earlier generations and we need to ensure our mental health system provides timely, quality and responsive support for them. It was encouraging to hear young people talk about the importance of embedding lived experience in system design and service delivery, as well as moving away from a crisis model to early intervention, prevention and person-centred responses — these are all key focuses of the Shifting minds strategic plan. You can view the videos from the Summit here. Boost for perinatal mental healthcare The Queensland Government has announced $39 million in funding to deliver 30 new mother-baby beds to provide specialist perinatal mental healthcare across the state. The new beds will be implemented from mid-2024 to late 2026 in Townsville, Cairns and Hinterland, Logan, Sunshine Coast, Ipswich and South Brisbane.  READ MORE Triple P's National Parenting Survey released The Triple P – Positive Parenting Program released the results of its largest-ever parenting survey, which revealed the reality of cost-of-living pressures, emotional distress, sleep deprivation and concerns about social media and screen time on their kids’ mental health and wellbeing. Over 8,300 parents contributed to the national survey. READ MORE Severe mental illness linked to high rates of physical ailments A new international study conducted by researchers from the University of Queensland has found people with severe mental illness, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, are up to four times more likely to have two or more chronic physical health conditions. READ MORE Touched by Suicide guide launched  Lifeline's Touched by Suicide: Wellbeing support guide is for anyone impacted by the suicide death, suicide attempt, or suicidal behaviour of someone they are not closely related to or directly connected with. It’s also for anyone supporting someone who’s been touched by suicide. READ MORE Health and wellbeing funding for bushfire communities Federal and Queensland Governments have provided joint funding of $12 million for wellbeing and mental health support for communities impacted by bushfires in 2023. The funding includes $6.24 million for a Community Health and Wellbeing Package, and $2.2 million for a Mental Health Package.   READ MORE Call It Out app tackles racism The Call It Out app is a new platform aimed at documenting and addressing racism against First Nations peoples in communities across Australia. The recently launched app is designed to make reporting racism as accessible as possible, with people able to share their experiences anytime, anywhere.  READ MORE Supporting male suicide prevention We’re excited to announce we have funded The Men’s Table to establish eight tables across Queensland to create safe spaces and places for men to connect, share and belong. Males have disproportionately high rates of suicide, and this initiative provides opportunities to intervene with men who may be vulnerable to suicide by providing grassroots support from men supporting men. READ MORE Small business mental health course  Well done to the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training for developing a free micro-credential short course for small business owners to support mental health in the workplace. Course participants learn strategies to increase safety and support within the business, reduce stigma, as well as resources on support services and mental health first aid training.  READ MORE Community Safety Plan The Queensland Government's new Community Safety Plan has $1.28 billion to tackle crime and address the complex root causes of crime. The Plan has five pillars of action for government agencies and NGOs, that includes more police and police resources, increased funds for the domestic and family violence sector, action to address exposure to family violence and problematic drug and alcohol use, and programs to prevent crime and intervene early.  READ MORE Cost-of-living support for social work, nursing students The Federal Government announced the establishment of a Commonwealth Prac Payment to support students undertaking mandatory workplace placements required for university and training qualifications. Students studying to be a social worker, teacher or nurse will be eligible for the payment of $319.50 per week during their clinical and professional placement periods.  READ MORE New online platform for children's mental health A free online mental health platform co-designed by young people, for young people has been launched to tackle the ongoing children’s mental health crisis. Momentum is a new self-help digital mental health program that brings evidence-informed treatments, tools and techniques to the fingertips of seven to 17-year-olds who are experiencing common mental health issues. READ MORE National Alcohol Strategy: mid point review Alcohol Change Australia has released a mid-point review of the National Alcohol Strategy 2019-2028. The Strategy aims to prevent and minimise alcohol-related harms in Australia, including targeting a 10 per cent reduction in harmful alcohol use. The mid-point review has found there has been minimal or no change in alcohol use and harms across a range of indicators since the Strategy was introduced.  READ MORE Mark your calendars! The inaugural Queensland Infant Mental Health Symposium will take place on Friday 14 June. The theme for this year is ‘Trauma-informed Care – Listening to the Voices of Infants.’ Book your tickets or find out more. Apply now! The Department of Housing, Local Government and Planning and Public Works and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Housing Queensland are seeking expressions of interest to join the Queensland First Nations Housing and Homelessness Partnership. Applications close on 4 June 2024. Find out more and apply. Queensland Health has launched a new weekly podcast series titled It Can’t Hurt to Ask exploring Queenslander’s health questions, concerns and curiosities, and featuring interviews with expert clinicians across Queensland. Find out more and listen here. CRANAplus provides mental health and wellbeing services for the rural and remote health workforce, including a free 24/7 telephone support line and a range of mental health and wellbeing workshops, resources and education. Find out more. Sponsorships We offer sponsorships up to $10,000 for sector events. Next round closes 30 August 2024. Learn more Sector grants The Queensland Council of Social Service (QCOSS) publishes a comprehensive list of sector grants. Learn more Events Check out the latest major sector events, hosted by the Commission and partner organisations. Learn more Please share this newsletter with your colleagues or on social media. Queensland Mental Health Commission, PO Box 13027 George Street, Brisbane, QLD 4003 Unsubscribe Manage preferences |
| --- |