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This week, GET REAL asks a very practical question: 

Where do you go to get help for your mental health – particularly if it is something you’ve struggled with even before COVID-19, or you have an underlying mental health condition, or the advice that’s available online, and to everyone, just doesn’t seem to make a difference for you?

On this episode, guests include: 

• Karenza Louis-Smith, CEO of ermha365 and Board Member of Mental Health Victoria; 
• Lynne and Cassie, Practice Leaders in ermha365’s Psychosocial Support Program, PSS; and
• Shandya and Shyleen, a consumer and PSS support worker, talking about how getting support through PSS has helped Shandya to manage her mental health issues and achieve her goals.

The PSS program provides mental health support across a wide catchment area in South Eastern Melbourne that stretches from St Kilda to Sorrento to Bunyip, including the major population hubs of Clayton, Dandenong, Moorabbin, Caulfield, Cranbourne, Frankston and Pakenham.

To access the PSS program, contact SEMPHN Access & Referral on 1800 862 363 (8.30am-4.30pm weekdays)  or visit the SEMPHN website and download the referral form - https://www.semphn.org.au/resources/access.html#referralpss

Meridia represents the next evolution of a group of long-standing and trusted social service organisations working across disability, mental health, employment, community inclusion, social enterprise, allied health and clinical services.

Together, we bring organisations including The Disability Trust, ermha365, OC Connections, Marriott Support Services, Bedford and embarc into a more connected and future-focused structure.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

Meridia acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

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Now more than ever, people need support with their mental health, and services like ermha365 are finding new and innovative ways to continue to provide mental health support, while maintaining social distancing to help flatten the curve.  

This week, GET REAL explores the way that ermha365’s mental health team has pivoted to telehealth services to continue to provide care and support to our clients, with the enthusiastic support of our staff and funders who have been incredibly agile and flexible over the past few weeks.  

Guests include Sally Wall, ermha365 Manager of Mental Health Services; Cass and Jess, who work in the PSS team providing mental health support in South Eastern Melbourne; and Marnie and Clare, who work in mental health support in Geelong/Barwon.

For support with your mental health:

In South Eastern Melbourne, contact SEMPHN Access & Referral on 1800 862 363 (8.30am-4.30pm weekdays)  or visit the SEMPHN website and download the referral form - https://www.semphn.org.au/resources/access.html#referralpss

In Geelong/Barwon, contact the Access Team at Barwon Health Mental Health Drug and Alcohol Services (MHDAS) on 03 4215 0000 for an assessment. A Mental Health Community Clinician (case manager) then makes the referral to ermha365. 

Meridia represents the next evolution of a group of long-standing and trusted social service organisations working across disability, mental health, employment, community inclusion, social enterprise, allied health and clinical services.

Together, we bring organisations including The Disability Trust, ermha365, OC Connections, Marriott Support Services, Bedford and embarc into a more connected and future-focused structure.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

Meridia acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

...

Got feedback, a question, or a topic suggestion? Drop us a Fan Mail message right here.

How do we equip our workforce to support people who are living with psychosocial disabilities? 

This is a particular challenge for some NDIS services like ermha365, who work with people who have been diagnosed with a significant mental disorder, have complex needs and challenging behaviours, and may also have extended histories of self-harm and violence. 

This week, GET REAL explores an innovative virtual reality training project designed to offer immersive experiences to enable disability support workers to quickly gain competency in this work.

Guests include Thomas MacNamara,  Founder and Chief Technical Officer, Lightweave, and Ellen Maple, Project Manager – Learning Design and Development, ermha365.

Resources and further information:

·       ermha365 Virtual Reality project, learning resources and explanatory video 

·       Lightweave virtual and augmented reality development

·       Wodonga Tafe, project partner

·       Mental Health Victoria, project partner

This project was made possible through the generous support of the Victorian government. ermha365 would like to thank our project partners Wodonga TAFE and Mental Health Victoria for their ongoing support.

For more information about the Virtual Reality learning resources project, contact the ermha365 Academy team on 1300 376 421 or email [email protected] 

Meridia represents the next evolution of a group of long-standing and trusted social service organisations working across disability, mental health, employment, community inclusion, social enterprise, allied health and clinical services.

Together, we bring organisations including The Disability Trust, ermha365, OC Connections, Marriott Support Services, Bedford and embarc into a more connected and future-focused structure.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

Meridia acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

...

Got feedback, a question, or a topic suggestion? Drop us a Fan Mail message right here.

People with disabilities are highly vulnerable in the COVID-19 pandemic. Is our government doing enough to help them? What more do people with disabilities - and the organisations that support them - need to get them through this crisis safely? 

GET REAL talks to the CEOs of three disability support organisations that have banded together with more than 30 others to lobby the government for the help that the sector desperately needs. Together, this non-affiliated coalition, as part of the NDIS, supports more than 300,000 people with disabilities across Australia, employing thousands of Australians. 

Guests include Kate MacRae (CEO Able Australia), Stephanie Gunn (CEO Gateways Support Services) and Karenza Louis-Smith (CEO ermha365).

Able Australia - https://ableaustralia.org.au/

Gateways Support Services – https://www.gateways.com.au/

ermha365 - https://www.ermha.org/

Meridia represents the next evolution of a group of long-standing and trusted social service organisations working across disability, mental health, employment, community inclusion, social enterprise, allied health and clinical services.

Together, we bring organisations including The Disability Trust, ermha365, OC Connections, Marriott Support Services, Bedford and embarc into a more connected and future-focused structure.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

Meridia acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

...

Got feedback, a question, or a topic suggestion? Drop us a Fan Mail message right here.

People who care for a friend of family member are the unsung heroes of our community. Carers provide a service that would otherwise fall on the health system, providing a $15bn contribution to the Victorian economy alone. Yet they often face enormous challenges. In this episode, we talk to three people with lived experience about what it’s really like to support someone with a complex mental health issue or a disability, and how we can better care for carers. 

Resources and further information:

Carer Gateway – An Australian Government service providing help and advice, respite and financial support for carers (phone: 1800 422 737)

Carers Australia - the national peak body representing Australia’s unpaid carers, with branches across Australia (phone: 1800 242 636)

ermha365 – host of the Get Real podcast, ermha365 provides community support for people who are challenged with complex mental health and disability issues (phone: 1300 376 421) 

Meridia represents the next evolution of a group of long-standing and trusted social service organisations working across disability, mental health, employment, community inclusion, social enterprise, allied health and clinical services.

Together, we bring organisations including The Disability Trust, ermha365, OC Connections, Marriott Support Services, Bedford and embarc into a more connected and future-focused structure.

Helplines (Australia):
Lifeline  13 11 14
QLIFE 1800 184 527
13 YARN 13 92 76
Suicide Callback Service 1300 659 467

Meridia acknowledges that our work in the community takes place on the Traditional Lands of many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and therefore respectfully recognise their Elders, past and present, and the ongoing Custodianship of the Land and Water by all Members of these Communities.

...