Mental Health and Wellbeing

Overview

HealthWest works in partnership with its members to improve community mental health and wellbeing planning and health promotion program delivery. We follow a definition of mental health as the embodiment of social, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. Good mental health provides individuals with the vitality necessary for active living, to achieve goals and to interact with one another in ways that are respectful and just. 

Our focus on mental health and wellbeing is guided by VicHealth’s 2005-2007 framework for the promotion of mental health and wellbeing, which identifies social inclusion, freedom from violence and discrimination, and access to economic resources and participation as the key social determinants of mental health and wellbeing.

Responding to community needs

  • People who report high levels and very high levels of psychological distress are more likely to report fair or poor self-reported health – 36.7% and 55.3% respectively.
  • The Victorian Population Health Survey 2007 reported groups commonly facing discrimination (such as people from non-English speaking and indigenous backgrounds) had higher levels of self-reported psychological distress and poorer self-reported health than the average for Victoria.
  • The 2003 Victorian Population Health Survey reported that in the northern and western metropolitan regions, the proportion of people reporting severe levels of psychological distress was significantly greater among those with annual incomes below $40,000 than those with annual incomes of $60,000 or more.

Source: Department of Human Services (2007). Victorian Population Health Survey 2007, selected findings, Melbourne.

Objectives and Activities

  • To improve community mental health and wellbeing in Melbourne’s west by increasing the capacity of organisations to: foster and support opportunities for social inclusion and community engagement; and promote community harmony by minimising the impact of discrimination and violence through to June 2012.
  • Participate in advocacy activities to incorporate community engagement approaches into policy and practice.
  • Seek and support funding proposals that increase community engagement opportunities.
  • Support consumer engagement strategies for member agencies through workforce and policy development.
  • Conduct a local forum on community engagement across the continuum of care.
  • Share information to promote community engagement and participation in workforce development and training.
  • Conduct community engagement mapping activities.
  • Identify, prioritise and participate in advocacy activities to incorporate community engagement and participatory approaches into policy and practice.
  • Undertake the Problem Gambling prevention initiative.
  • Disseminate research and learning into practice.