The Mental Health Community Based Program aims to support families, carers, children and young people (aged between 16 and 24 years) affected by mental illness through a diverse range of community programs. The program seeks to build on family strengths and improve resilience and family functioning, particularly for Indigenous families and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
The initiative is an Australian Government initiative of the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) National Action Plan on Mental Health.
The program acknowledges the role played by families and carers in assisting people with a mental illness. In particular, the program recognises that:
- Family members and carers provide the bulk of support and assistance with limited specialised training and support of their own.
- Children and young people often experience a range of negative effects when a family member suffers from a mental illness and are highly dependent upon others for support.
- Indigenous families and those from a culturally and linguistically diverse background have a significantly lower level of access to mental health care and support in the wider community. This results in much greater responsibility being placed on family members without adequate support or education.
Mental Health Community Based Program - Frequently asked questions
Delivery
In Phase 2, the Community Based Program Phase 2 funded organisations 2007 were selected to deliver:
- 38 local community projects that contribute to prevention and early intervention for target groups in the community context.
In Phase 1, the Community Based Program Phase 1 funded organisations were selected to deliver:
- Family Mental Health Support Services
- Carers Workshops in all states and territories
For service providers
Mental Health Community Based Program: Program Guidelines