Knowledge Hub

Mental health services and individual workers who work within them will often have very different understandings and explanations of mental illness from consumers who are from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. Culturally responsive workers must seek to understand the illness experience of CALD consumers in order to gain their trust and respect, determine shared priorities, and plan and implement sensitive and effective intervention, treatment and recovery.

By Mental Health in Multicultural Australia (MHiMA), 2014

Consumer and carer participation with culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities needs to be approached in a way that respects cultural differences and shows understanding of the needs of CALD consumers, carers and their families. Consumer and carer participation with CALD communities needs to start with the mental health services actively engaging with their local CALD communities to build trust and tailored partnerships. Strategies for improving participation need to be multifocal and address jointly agreed goals.

By Mental Health in Multicultural Australia (MHiMA), 2014

Mental health services play an important role in supporting culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) consumers in their recovery by reducing impediments and barriers, and creating opportunities. To assist CALD consumers on the recovery journey, mental health services need to understand that recovery and its principles are not universal concepts and as a result  may present challenges for mental health workers and CALD consumers.

By Mental Health in Multicultural Australia (MHiMA), 2014

Department of Home Affairs (DHA)

Visit the DHA website to find out more about translation and interpreting services available nationally, including the Free Translating Service and Free Interpreting Service programs.

LGBTIQ Intersect and more broadly the Out in the CALD Harmony Grant is part of a larger initiative across Victoria to promote increased dialogue, shared understandings and the development of culturally safe and inclusive practice among multicultural, faith-based and LGBTI communities, health and wellbeing providers and community organisations. LGBTIQ Intersect has been developed by Victorian Transcultural Mental Health (VTMH) in collaboration with GLHV@ARCSHS, La Trobe University (GLHV)

Mental Health Australia commissioned research to investigate the mental health of three specific culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. These were the Italian, Turkish and Vietnamese communities.

We are delighted to present the Final Report detailing the research findings and recommendations. 

This research was conducted by Whereto, commissioned by Mental Health Australia and funded by the National Mental Health Commission.

Mental Health Australia commissioned research to investigate the mental health of three specific culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. These were the Italian, Turkish and Vietnamese communities.

We are delighted to present the Final Report detailing the research findings and recommendations, and the one page infographic.

This research was conducted by Whereto, commissioned by Mental Health Australia and funded by the National Mental Health Commission.

Full report of the Localities Embracing and Accepting Diversity (LEAD) Experiences of Racism Survey, published by the Victorian Health Promotion Foundation (2013)

Prepared by Mental Health in Multicultural Australia for the National Mental Health Commission (2013)

The purpose of this study was to examine:

• What is known about the mental health of immigrant and refugee communities in Australia
• Whether Australian mental health research pays adequate attention to cultural and linguistic diversity (CALD) in the Australian population
• Whether national mental health data collections support evidence-informed mental health policy and practice and mental health reform in multicultural Australia

The recommendations, based on the main findings, are intended to contribute to the development of a culture of inclusion in Australian mental health research.
 

This resource has been developed by Mind Australia Limited (Mind)