Connecting people to the right help at the right time!

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The Where’s the Door? Project was initiated in 2020 in recognition that COVID-19 was impacting increasing numbers of people who were new to hardship and vulnerability and didn’t know about available community supports and services.

The Where is the Door? project aims to improve and test new ways of connecting vulnerable people to available supports and:

  • Enable timely access to services by ensuring people are aware of the supports available to them and how to access relevant supports.
  • A broad understanding and increased literacy for community members to help support and link family, friends, and neighbours to available supports.
  • Build on existing knowledge and approaches and develop the best approach to ensuring people seeking assistance across the Southwest Metropolitan region receive the right help, at the right time, by identifying and engaging early with people seeking or needing assistance.

Imagined Futures commissioned consultant Pauline Logan to explore how the Imagined Futures partnership could strategically build on existing knowledge and approaches to develop the best model for ensuring people seeking assistance across the South-West Metropolitan region receive the right help, at the right time, by identifying and engaging early with people seeking or needing assistance.  Pauline documented her findings into a report which can be found here by clicking on this link.

Imagined Futures Annual Story 2021

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The Imagined Futures partnership is pleased to present their Annual Story for 2021.

In launching the report Chair of the partnership and CEO of St Patrick’s Community Support Centre Michael Piu said:  “During a time when the COVID-19 pandemic continued to challenge the community, and in turn those providing support, I am particularly proud to note that these trying times served to galvanise the partnership even further.”

Over the course of 2021 more than 60 partners came together to respond quickly to coordinate efforts around issues such as “Tent City’ in Pioneer park and the Accelerating Aboriginal Vaccination Drive, while at the same time delivering its strategic collective impact projects through working groups.

“We are entering the 9th year since the Imagined Futures partnership was established.  Over this time, relationships have been cemented and trust developed.  It is hard to overstate the value of this foundation when working in a place-based way that seeks to deliver strong outcomes for our communities than what could ever be delivered separately” Mr Piu said.

To read the Annual Story click here

 

 

 

Joining Forces to Tackle Depression

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A partnership of government, businesses, philanthropists and community service providers called the Imagined Futures Alliance Against Depression*, is spear-heading a local public awareness campaign designed to reduce stigma for people experiencing depression and encourage people to reach out for support.

With COVID-19 now at our doorstep many people are feeling anxious and uncertain about the future but are unsure where, or if, they should seek help.

“We’ve seen a spike in mental health issues in our communities. At the same time, we know the earlier people reach out for support, the easier it is for them to find relief,” Imagined Futures Executive Officer Leigh Sinclair said.

However, stigma and lack of awareness of mental health issues, and confusion about what supports are available, can stop people from reaching out for help and accessing treatments.

“If our campaign can help prompt people who are struggling to reach out for help and, if necessary, access treatment, the evidence tells us we will reduce suicide in our community” she said.

The focus is on raising awareness about depression because it is one of most common mental health conditions in Australia and is a contributing factor in almost half of all suicide deaths.

“We want to convey that depression can affect anyone, at any age, but can also be treated with the proper support”.

AFL Dockers player Alex Pearce, an ambassador for the Alliance, knows this all too well.

“From my own experience of depression, after reaching out for help, I now have the tools in place to maintain my mental health.”

The Alliance has developed a Mental Health Support Resource of free or low-cost services for people of all ages living in the local government areas of Cockburn, Fremantle and Melville to accompany the campaign.  The services, which range from crisis help to online, phone and face-to-face providers, can be used alone, or complement advice from GPs, and assist people who also might be on a waitlist to see a psychologist or psychiatrist.

The Alliance encourages everyone to get behind the campaign and is offering free campaign packs to businesses, services, clubs, workplaces, and community groups in the Cockburn, Fremantle, and Melville areas.

 

To receive your free campaign pack, email ifaad@stpats.com.au call 08 6372 4873.

 

For more information about Imagined Futures AAD go to https://imaginedfutures.org.au/mental-health/alliance/

 

* The group’s work is informed by the grassroots Alliance Against Depression (AAD) framework to help combat suicide and depression in our community. Developed and tested in Europe, the AAD has been shown to reduce suicides and suicide-attempts by 24% over a two-year period.
Founded in 2014, Imagined Futures is a collective impact partnership auspiced by St Pat’s Community Support Centre. The partnership brings together human service agencies, businesses, philanthropists and community members to tackle complex social issues across the local government areas of Cockburn, Fremantle and Melville. www.imaginedfutures.org.au

Alliance Against Depression Community Toolkit – Campaign Materials

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The Alliance Against Depression (AAD) community toolkit provides campaign information and resources for stakeholder use.  The toolkit designed enables supporters of the AAD to select relevant materials appropriate for their intended audiences.

AAD messages can be promoted at activities and events, including verbally, print and online. Promotion opportunities may include:

  • AAD presentations
  • Mental health training and education sessions
  • Public announcements
  • Signage and resources at information displays
  • Logo acknowledgement on print and online promotional material
  • Posting and sharing content on social media using #ifalliance

To access the toolkit click on AAD Community Toolkit

Mental Health Friendly Doctor

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When seeking help for depression or other mental health concerns, the first point of call is to talk to a General Practitioner (GP). Discussing mental health challenges can be difficult so it is important to find the right doctor that a person feels comfortable talking to. Mental health friendly GPs have skill and knowledge in mental health and help support their patients on the road to recovery.

The Black Dog Institute ‘finding a mental health friendly doctor’ is a helpful guide for individuals and people helping others in finding the right GP. Click here to download the resource.

Mental Health Support Brochure

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The Imagined Futures Alliance Against Depression worked in partnership with local service providers and counsels to develop a mental health support brochure. This brochure lists vetted support services local to Cockburn, Fremantle, and Melville. Services are free or low-cost and accessed without referral.

To download the mental health support brochure click here

 

Mental Health Support Resource

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The Mental Health Support Resource is an information tile found on the Access My Community App. The resource lists local services for individuals and people supporting others. Services are free or low-cost, and are accessible without a referral or a Mental Health Care Plan. These services can be used alone, complement GP’s advice, and help those on a waitlist to see a psychologist.

The tile is ‘geolocated’, meaning it is available to people living, working, or visiting the areas of Cockburn, Fremantle, and Melville.

For more information on how to access and download the tile, click here

To access our Mental Health Support brochure, click here

 

IFAAD Action Plan July 2021 – June 2022

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The Imagined Futures Alliance Against Depression (IFAAD) has developed a 12-month plan to guide a coordinated whole of community approach to implementing the European Alliance Against Depression Framework across the local government areas of Cockburn, Fremantle, and Melville. The Alliance Against Depression framework, together with this plan, provide a mechanism for unlocking the power that exists in our community to improve the treatment and care of people with depression.

The Imagined Futures Action Plan for July 2021 to June 2022 can be found by clicking on the following link AAD Action Plan

Imagined Futures Keeping Kids Engaged in School – Information for School Partners

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The Keeping Kids Engaged in School Project brings our partners together to deliver a multi-dimensional approach aimed at to keeping young people engaged in education.  The Schools and Imagined Futures brochure is a resource for our school partners.  It provides an overview of how the program works and the roles and responsibilities of the partners.

Click here to download the resource.