Thursday 5th May Mental Health carer support/education session in the activities room at Barwon Health Community Health Services 104 – 108 Bellarine Hwy Newcomb from 2.00 – 4.00.

Meet one of our Psychiatric Registrars, our Senior Psychiatric Nurse & the Clozapine coordinator

The afternoon will commence with an overview and history of mental health services in Victoria presented by Shirley Jennings (Senior Psychiatric nurse).

This will be followed by an interactive session with Shirley, Sela Mulholland (Psychiatric registrar) & Marlene Gregg (Clozapine coordinator).

Wednesday 11th May Family Drug Support from 7.00 – 9.00 in the Green Room at the Swanston Centre Annex, University Hospital, Myers Street, Geelong

For support 24/7 call the FDS support line on 1300 368 186

Thursday 12th May Creative Carers from 1.00 – 3.00 in the activities room at Barwon Health Community Health Services at Newcomb. Check details with Serena or Jennifer.

Wednesday 25th May Family Drug Support from 7.00 – 9.00 in the Green Room at the Swanston Centre Annex, University Hospital, Myers Street, Geelong

Forthcoming event:

A relaxing day for mental health carers at the Geelong Conference Centre in the beautiful East Geelong gardens.

Thursday 19th May from 11.00 – 2.30

Morning tea on arrival at 11.00

Carers Victoria workshop

‘Relax & Unwind’ – improve your wellbeing presented by Jennifer Daddo – from 11.30 – 12.30

Do you sometimes feel like your brain is spinning? Are you feeling tired and stressed?

Caring can contribute to increased tension and fatigue. This workshop will explore some simple techniques to help you relax. Incorporating some of these strategies into your daily or weekly routines can assist you to improve your sense of wellbeing.

The key messages will include:

  • Explore how relaxation helps reduce stress and improve wellbeing
  • Choose relaxation activities to suit individual needs
  • Plan for regular relaxation

We will then enjoy a ‘Hot potato buffet lunch’

Booking is essential as there are limited places

Ring Pamela 42152418 or 0437 663 845 by Monday 9th May

World No Tobacco Day 31st May.

Every year, on 31st May, WHO and partners mark World No Tobacco Day, highlighting the health risks associated with tobacco use and advocating for effective policies to reduce tobacco consumption.

There are more than 7,000 chemicals in tobacco smoke and about 70 can cause cancer

Stopping smoking can help you live longer

Reduced heart disease risk within 1 to 2 years of quitting

Who.int/tobacco/wnt

The SmokeFree Zone

The SANE SmokeFree Zone is a kit for giving up smoking, written specially for people with a mental illness. The kit includes SANE Guides for the person quitting and for the supporter, as well as other quitting resources.

The kit has been developed in consultation with consumers, carers, pharmacists and psychiatrists, as well as quit smoking experts, to produce an easy-to-use, practical resource to help people to quit.

Visit the SANE Bookshop at

Or call 1800 18SANE (7263) to order by telephone

What an amazing source of knowledge.

At our first ‘meet the pharmacist session’ our pharmacist Michelle answered many questions about medications, drugs, drug interactions and smoking reduction techniques.

She had some interesting facts sheets from the Western Australian Health Department for example:

Smoking & clozapine Smoking & olanzapine

Generic medications Weight gain advice

Website:

We were also given a booklet ‘Psychiatric Medication Information – A Guide for Patients & Carers

The hour passed quickly and we decided to review the time for the next ‘Meet the Pharmacist session’ now winter is approaching.

Watch this space.

Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it.

(Dennis P Kimbro quoted in Work Wellness February/March 2016)

Stress Buster

With wintry weather approaching it’s not always easy to catch some sun every day to ensure your body gets a regular boost of vitamin D.

Vitamin D plays a key role in increasing our brain’s serotonin levels, a feel-good chemical known to reduce anxiety and stress, so it’s important to keep supplies replenished during the cold, grey months.

Few foods are naturally rich in vitamin D, but the best ones are fish such as salmon, tuna and mackerel.

Three steps to bliss in the kitchen:

If you find the kitchen intimidating rather than relaxing, follow these three steps to culinary bliss:

  1. Find your confidence first, advises Maggie Beer. “Find something simple that you love to eat and just master it…practice is a tremendous thing.”
  2. Maggie Beer also suggests growing some ingredients yourself. “If you pick fresh rosemary and put it in your dish…that makes such a difference to your food and you get so much pleasure that you’ve grown it.”
  3. Finally, cultivate some mindfulness. Psychologist Liana Taylor says: “Smell the ingredients; really see the ingredients. Feel the texture, notice what happens when you mix the ingredients. Take notice of all the senses: touch, sight, smell, taste and sound…

p.59 Mindfood 2014 special winter food edition

Boundaries

A tool for keeping families afloat and connected

Why is it so important to learn how to create boundaries?

Healthy boundaries are integral to how we find privacy, personal respect and our sense of what we as individuals are entitled to.

We all need boundaries for our own peace of mind.

Why is it so important to learn how to respect someone else’s boundaries?

If we do not learn to see and respect the boundaries of others, we may be guilty of intruding, acting inappropriately, or violating the human rights of another individual.

Boundaries are what enable us to live together civilly.

Basic boundaries/limits

The following 5 rules can be considered as a basis for setting healthy boundaries:

1. I have the right to say no to people (within reason & without feeling guilty)

2. I won’t tolerate abuse (of any kind)

3. I have a right to privacy

4. I have a right to expect friends/family to support me.

5. I have a right to be listened to

Ensure that limits are stated in clear and simple terms

Boundaries or barriers

Boundaries become barriers when communication closes down.

To prevent yourself seeing a boundary as a barrier, try to put yourself in the other person’s shoes: how would you react to your own request?

Don’t be afraid to communicate.

Condensed from an article ‘Boundaries and Barriers by Mark Sichel and Alicia L. Cervini on Psybersquare website

For carer support & information about mental health services

Ring Pamela – 421 52418 or mob 0437 663 845

Jennifer – 421 52419 or mob 0490 346 694

We both work part time so leave a message & we will call you as soon as possible

For respite services

Ring the intake worker – FREECALL 1800 052 222

National Family Drug Support

Available 7 days a week 24 hours a day – phone 1300 368 186

Lifeline 131114

This is a 24-hour telephone crisis service available every day of the year to anyone, anytime and from anywhere in Australia for just the cost of a local call

Beyond Blue

Talk it through day or night

1300 224 636

SANE Helpline 1800 SANE (7263)

Information and advice 9 – 5 weekdays

Suicide Helpline 1300 651 251

This document was created by Mental Health and Drugs and Alcohol Services, Barwon Health.

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