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Mountains Community Resource Network

Mountains Community Resource Network. Mental Health Community Cultural Development Project Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has Margaret Mead Size does matter. Mountains Community Resource Network.

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Mountains Community Resource Network

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  1. Mountains Community Resource Network Mental Health Community Cultural Development Project Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever hasMargaret Mead Size does matter

  2. Mountains Community Resource Network MCRN is a very small organisation with a commitment to social justice. We have deliberately stayed small as a strategy to continue a community development approach, flexible to emerging social issues. In a climate that favours large over small we are leading a movement to promote the value of small organisations as essential to building the sort of healthy democratic communities that support all of its citizens Voice for SONG www.song.org.au.

  3. Value of small organisationssize does matter • Small organisations can turn service delivery into community access • We can work with innovation, flexibility and responsiveness to addressing social capital and social justice issues, often with limited resources • We can be effective advocates – we are not generally constrained by bureaucracy • We develop and support local networks and link people • We support many skilled and innovative volunteers who make major contributions to our society through their work in small NGOs

  4. 2000 - our broad aim to increase capacity within BMcommunity services and within government bodies to respond to the needs of individuals who are living with or recovering from mental illness and their families.

  5. The beginning – ‘Raising Awareness of Mental Illness’ • RAMI is a Mental Health Interagency in the Blue Mountains • We began in 2000 out of a growing awareness of mental health as a social justice issue and recognition - clinical health services were not meeting the community support needs of individuals and families

  6. What’s worked? • Passion and personal commitment / experience / sometimes frustration / individual connections • Lead agency – MCRN providing leadership & secretariat support - minutes, agendas, reminders, email list (never letting people get away) • Continued commitment from key agencies • Continuing educational seminars - MHFA • Diverse representation inc Consumers, Carers, Rotary, Council, students • Continually inviting Health to participate

  7. Constraints • Lack communication, trust and respect from SWAHS Directorate • Difference in power: small NGO / senior SWAHS professionals • Difference in approach: community development v/s health promotion • NGOs often have greater flexibility – conflicts with bureaucratic processes

  8. Mountains Community Resource Network Mental Health Community Cultural Development Project Funded for 4 years by Western Sydney Area Assistance Scheme Contact Miriam or Julianne on (02) 4759 3799

  9. Mental Health is Everybody’s Business • NGO’s have the ability to ensure that mental health is on everyone’s agenda • Flexibility enables response to issues as they arise • Ability to work outside clinical or medical models to address broader social justice issues

  10. Community Development • Increase the capacity of mainstream NGO’s to incorporate and respond to the needs of people living with mental illness • Reduce the stigma through increasing understanding and awareness of mental illness in our community • Support consumer and carer initiatives

  11. Raising Awareness of Mental Illness (RAMI) • Improve communication between stakeholders • Encourage partnerships across community and health sectors • Lobbying to better service outcomes • Education and training to assist access and services

  12. Vale St Centre • Provides social and recreational programs for consumers • Facilitates social contact and peer support • Builds a sense of ownership and belonging • Cost – effectiveness: both operational and preventative

  13. Gaps in Service Delivery • Needs of minority groups • Community – based programs for consumers • Support for carers • Inadequate funding for NGO Mental Health service development and delivery

  14. Community Cultural Development • A powerful tool to engage individuals and groups to build community • An effective health promotion strategy • Provides voice and empowerment to those often marginalised • An approach that focus’ on strengths and possibilities

  15. Mad as a Cut Snake A One Woman Show of Song and Story exploring attachment, mental illness, mental ill health, brain illness, trauma, resilience and all that jazz

  16. Acts of the Mind Blue Mountains Inter-school Mental Health Drama Festival 2006

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