Publications and Reports

Asylum Seekers and Refugees in Australia: Issues of Mental Health & Wellbeing
Edited by Diane Barnes (2003)

This book brings into sharp focus the concerns of many people, in Australia and elsewhere, over the policies and administrative arrangements that Australia has in place to cope with the people who are subject of this book. Part 1 covers the vulnerability of asylum seekers in Australia, while Part 2 deals with mental health challenges for various refugee groups. A quick look inside the cover reveals the insight, compassion and scholarship the authors bring to their topics.

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Diversity & Mental Health in Challenging Times
Edited by Beverley Raphael, AM & Abd-Elmasih Malak, AM (2001)

This book addresses the ways in which cultural variations and mental health interact in a complex and changing world. It is of interest to all who are concerned with mental health. There are contributions from academics, researchers and mental health professionals. They present many innovative ideas, discuss the mental  health system and the community, and focus on specific mental health problems and the strategies to deal with them. Topics cover such diverse aspects of mental health as suicide prevention, the prevention of mental health problems among people from diverse backgrounds, cross-cultural manifestations of anxiety, trauma, depression and stress and the difficult cases adjudicated by the NSW Mental Health Tribunal.

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Deeper Dimensions: Culture, Youth & Mental Health
Edited by Marie Bashir, AO & David Bennett, AO

Mental health problems in young people from culturally diverse backgrounds can be helped through professional partnerships across fields such as prevention, education, welfare and juvenile justice. Such partnerships deal with a range of issues, from depression and vulnerability to self-harm and severe psychiatric disorder. The monograph illustrates both the genesis of mental health problems for young people and ways in which such problems can be addressed and alleviated. This monograph is useful for mental health professionals, school counsellors, migrant health workers and those interested in adolescent wellbeing in the broadest sense.
"It is written in an accessible style for the intelligent lay reader" (Professor Michael Farley, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Prince of Wales Hospital and Sydney Children' Hospital)

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Nobody Wants to Talk About It: Refugee Women's Mental Health
Edited by Barbara Ferguson & Eileen Pittaway (1999)

An 'inside look' into the emotional and mental health experiences of women refugees in Australia. The monograh covers Vietnamese women, language issues for Somali women, employment concerns of women refugees, the politically sensitive issues around female genital mutilation, gender and marital problems of Iranian women, and the unspeakable harm of sexual assault. The book's concluding poem challenges the reader to break the silence around the issues that 'nobody wants to talk about'.
'Despite the weight of the topics the monograph maintains an optimism based on the authors' respect for the refugee women's strength and courage....The book's strength is in its reliance on the women's stories." (Barbara Lane, Charles Sturt University).

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Hear our Voices: Trauma, Birthing and Mental Health Among Cambodian Women
Maureen H Fitzgerald et. al. (1998)

The Cambodian Women's Project, as described in this monograph, was an exploration of Cambodian women's experiences relating to childbirth. The Project aimed for a better appreciation of the relationship between life experiences and current personal experiences, including the birth of a child. Understanding the relationship is significant for all new mothers, including migrant women, refugees and those experiencing cultural change. The information contained in this book offers valuable insights to all involved with women and their families.

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Perspectives on Transcultural Mental Health
Edited by Barbara Ferguson & Diane Barnes (1997)

A collection of papers first presented at the Transcultural Mental Health Centre's 1996 conference, this monograph aims to develop the knowledge and skills needed for working with people of diverse cultural backgrounds. Papers delve into conceptual, clinical practice and research contexts. They are of interest to clinicians, educators and researchers.

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Occupational Therapy, Culture & Mental Health
Maureen H Fitzgerald, Ruth Beltran, Joy Pennock, Peter Williamson & Colleen Cullavey-O'Byrne (1997)

The first systematic account of the role of cultural factors in the practice of occupational therapy. After a detailed review of the literature, the book presents the results of a survey of occupational therapists as well as interview data with clients and families. Among other issues, the book explores topics as 'When is something best explained as primarily a product of culture and when it is best explained as a product of the illness?".

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Reports

Keeping Well: Mental Health Promotion, Prevention & Early Intervention for All
Edited by John Spiteri (2003)

This report on the Third Transcultural Mental Health Promotion Forum outlines the current ideas and concepts surrounding mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention in a transcultural setting, and applies these principles to specific population groups, such as young people, adults and older people.

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General Practitioners and Counsellors: A Pilot Mental Health Partnership
Jennifer Herron (2003)

This report details the initial stages or a program based at the TMHC which aims to support GPs in meeting the mental health needs of their CALD patients. Examined in detail is the implementation and evaluation of an innovative project in which qualified bilingual counsellors were placed in general practice to provide a counselling service to CALD patients referred to by GPs.

The Report also highlights partnerships with various Divisions of General Practice, and strategies used to improve GP skills and confidence in working with people with mental health problems; improve GP knowledge of mental health services; and involve consumers in the process of supporting and educating GPs.

The Report will be of interest to mental health workers, counsellors, GPs, Divisions of General Practice, policy makers and those involved in implementing mental health shared care projects.

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A Better State of Mental Health for All
John Spiteri, Andrew Sozomenou, Maria Cassaniti, Suzanne Pope & Kym Scanlon (2002)

An outline of the key processes that were followed during the planning, development, implementation and evaluation stages of a multilingual multimedia community awareness campaign. The kit includes A Better State of Mental Health for All (English only). It also includes the Multilingual Family Help Booklet and cassette in the following languages: Arabic, Cantonese, Croatian, English, Filipino, Greek, Hindi, Italian, Korean, Macedonian, Mandarin, Serbian, Spanish, Tongan, Turkish, Vietnamese.

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• download Family Help Booklets (pdf)

The Health Needs of the Lightning Ridge Community
Franca Facci, Bob McDonald, Mark Harris, Abd-Elmasih Malak & Jill Crawford (2000)

Documents a study to develop a population demographic and health needs profile for Lightning Ridge and makes recommendations about the future delivery of rural health services.

Cross-Cultural Suicide Prevention: A Framework
Neda Dusevic, Pierre Baume & Abd-Elmasih Malak (2002)

(A reprint of the report printed in 2001 with a different title) Provides a picture of the available information on immigrant suicidal behaviours across the whole lifespan, as well as illustrating the modifiable risks and protective factors that may be operating. A valuable resource!

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Mental Health & Service Utilisation Among the Iranian Community in Metropolitan Sydney - The Needs
Freidoon Kharvarpour, Seyed Mohammad Hosseinipour, Diba Pourmand, Soheyla Gholamshahi & Behnaz Nesvandarani (2003)

Report of a study to assess the perceptions and understandings of mental health by the Iranian migrant community in Sydney. Ten focus groups revealed a sharp contrast between the youth and older Iranians in understanding the concept of mental health; Iranian General Practitioners were the first 'port of call' when facing mental health problems; and several other useful findings. Serves as a model for a community needs analysis.

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The Community Hides Such Problems - A Model for Dealing with Abuse of Older People in an Ethnic Community
Jane Mears, Natalie Bolzan & Denise Voros (2003)

Report on a model for researching and correcting problems around the abuse of older people, applicable to culturally and linguistically diverse communities. With a focus on one ethnic community, the report outlines consultations with older people, community 'gatekeepers' and workers, and describes a workshop for further investigating the issues. Describes ways forward and a plan of action, setting out eight recommendations.

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Proceedings of the 1999 Men's Health Forum
Maria Cassaniti, Carmine Di Campli, Abd-Elmasih Malak & Biagio Sirgiovanni (1999)

Proceedings address the mental health issues of concern to non-English speaking background men.

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Review of the New South Wales Bilingual Counsellor Program
Penny Mitchell, Abd-Elmasih Malak & David Small (1996)

Outlines seven major issues that emerged from in-depth interviews and makes 44 recommendations.