Miles Mental Health Workshop

Miles Workshop

15^th March 2011

Local context

The Miles community has a population of approximately 1500, with 1000 of these residents of the township. Wandoan is approximately 70 kilometres north of Miles and very much apart of this community. The rural industries represented are beef cattle, grain, a few small crops, feedlots and sawmilling of Cypress. In the last five years it has changed from a rural only based economy to one where mining has begun to emerge. This has resulted in a reversal of the declining population trend.

The lifestyle has altered considerably since the 70’s. Where once the farms employed four to eight workers, they now mostly employ part time workers and the wages have increased. There have been declining school bus runs and some families have to travel further to use them. Where once children would be encouraged to return to the farms, they are now encouraged to go to University and get a profession.

The participants described their community as Friendly, Welcoming, Caring, Culturally rich and Resilient

Issues impacting on uncertainty, stress and mental health

Participants were asked to consider the specific issues that impacted on their community – resulting from climate variability or other factors in their rural and urban communities.  The issues raised are listed below:

Mining Issues

·         Disrupting Rural families
·         Uncertainty of tenure
·         Environmental impacts
·         Loss of community
·         No ability to plan long term

Economic Stress

·         High input costs for rural families-fuel, registration, power and phone
·         Low commodity prices
·         Impact of floods financial and emotional
·         Uncertainty of commodity prices
·         Cost of production increasing

Services

·         Lack of health services
·         Difficulty in recruiting Doctors and health professionals
·         Lack of Aged care beds – elderly couples having to move away after living here all their lives.
·         Transport access to health
·         No Taxi
·         Education – schools not going to grade 12
·         No dentist in Wandoan
·         Lack of visiting services in Wandoan

Social

·         Lack of recognition
·         Reluctance to seek help
·         Isolation
·         Family – in laws
·         Succession planning
·         Mix of ideas

Government Regulations and Process

·         Vegetation Management

It was noted that

·         The energy industry may reduce children moving away

·         The next Ten years jobs for children as geologists, tradespeople ands engineers etc

 

Current services and initiatives

Participants pooled their knowledge of current programs and initiatives targeting mental health and well being support.  These are listed below:

Facilities

·         Murilla Community centre
·         Wandoan has Primary Health Care Centre
·         Hospital with visiting Mental health care worker and Social worker
·         Centacare Counsellor once a month at surgery
·         Drugs and Alcohol QHealth visits
·         Rural financial Counsellor
·         Community Health Nurse

Community

·         Service Clubs Apex
·         Active Sporting Clubs
·         QCWA
·         2 Visiting Ministers
·         Salvation Army visits along the river
·         Chamber of Commerce bi monthly in Miles
·         Chamber of Commerce monthly in Wandoan
·         Agforce

·       

  the Chamber of Commerce in both Miles and Wandoan - community newsletters that are published - bi monthly in Miles by the Murilla Community Centre and monthly in Wandoan by the Progress Assoc.

Events

·         Men’s Health night Wandoan
·         Men’s Health evenings
·         Tie Up the Black dog (last year) 150 people attended

 

What gaps are there and where is the need?

After reflecting on current initiatives and the issues faced in the region, participants were asked to identify gaps that needed filling to complete the support picture.  These are listed below:

·         Between Visits by specialists/support staff – follow up
·         Promoting awareness and addressing Stigma re mental health
·         Dealing with multiple blows e.g. following long drought, loss of first crops.
·         Problem with outreach services - value of going through a local
·         Getting people to seek help
·         Difficulty in accessing support
·         Youth Mental health.

Steps that can be taken to address the gaps and needs

Participants were asked to discuss and come up with specific needs or steps that should/could be taken within the community to address gaps or build on current initiatives.  Their suggestions are listed below:

Access to Services

·         Community Centre Representative to visit Wandoan Weekly
·         Regular visits by more specialists

Information and Awareness

·         000 Information on the Call Centre
·         Community Education – training to be aware
·         Coordination between Organisations and Age Groups.

Training

·         Mental first Aid training for families - on the property/ “On the veranda”
·         Funding for the above initiatives
·         Mental First Aid training for all MCC staff, Agents and Sporting Coaches

Activities

·         Community building social activities.

Potential RIRDC contribution

From the list of ideas and steps suggested, the following were proposed to be most relevant to RIRDC:

·         Supporting Mental Health First Aid Training (or similar training) and/or providing resources or funding
·         Providing a framework for increased coordination to support mental health/well-being needs in rural and remote communities