Support for those affected by Middle East crisis

In recognition of the ongoing crisis in the Middle East, North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network (NWMPHN) and South Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network (SEMPHN) have commissioned mental health responses to help support impacted communities in Victoria. These organisations provide culturally appropriate support to individuals and families impacted by the crisis.

Primary health networks are committed to the fundamental principle of health equity. This means recognising that the impacts of trauma arising from crisis are not delineated by borders nor limited by faith.

The Centre for Muslim Wellbeing (CMW) has created the Zaytouna Project (a name derived from the Arabic word for olives) as the Muslim and Arabic community mental health and wellbeing response, contracted by NWMPHN.

The CMW is a leading provider of services that build flourishing individuals and vibrant communities in Victoria. It does this by creating bridges that connect individuals to their neighbours, their community, and society.

CMW has been commissioned by NWMPHN to deliver support for Muslim and Arabic communities. The objectives are to:

• promote early help seeking and support
• equip key community stakeholders and services to appropriately respond to Muslim community members experiencing mental health problems or psychological distress.

These objectives will be achieved through four related activities:

• Activity 1 – Community Coordinator: To increase integration and pathways between existing and emerging programs, improve awareness and help-seeking and improve navigation and access.
• Activity 2 – Community awareness and resource campaign: To increase the mental health literacy of the community and encourage/increase help seeking.
• Activity 3 – Capability building for community leaders: To reduce burnout by equipping community leaders with the knowledge and skills to access supports for their own wellbeing and to improve their capabilities to identify community members experiencing mental health problems or psychological distress.
• Activity 4 – Capability building for mainstream organisations: To improve mainstream providers’ abilities to support Arabic and Muslim communities, through understanding the roles of spiritual and cultural identity and wellbeing in improving mental health outcomes for Arabic and Muslim communities.

For consumers: mental health and wellbeing services

Centre for Muslim Wellbeing (CMW) provides a list of culturally responsive mental health practitioners and services that meet the needs of multicultural communities. The list includes psychologists, counsellors, social workers and other health professionals. Provider information includes areas of specialisation, contact details, availability, cost and referral information. Visit this page.

A navigator is also available to help you find what you need across health and social services.

Call 0472 668 010, or email admin@cmw.org.au Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm.

For more information visit www.cmw.org.au

To read about the Jewish and Israeli Mental Health Support, contracted by SEMPHN, visit the Jewish Care website.