My Health My Voice August 2022
Issue 35 | August 2022
New report shines a light on the health of Melbourne’s north and west
North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network’s (NWMPHN) 2022-2025 Health Needs Assessment will help us to plan and fund health services that are needed in our region. It includes research and data drawn from several sources, plus information gathered through interviews, workshops and surveys of community members, general practice, commissioned services, peak bodies, community health, acute health care and local government.
What have we learned?
In the NWMPHN region:
- The population will grow by almost 28 per cent by 2030.
- 13 per cent of adults are daily smokers, more common among men than women.
- 95.5 per cent of 5-year-old children are fully vaccinated.
- 58 per cent of people reported living with at least one chronic (long-term) disease.
- Around 28 per cent of adults have been diagnosed with anxiety or depression.
A summary of the Health Needs Assessment is available here (.pdf).
The full report is available to download here.
Community update
Stars come together for men’s mental health conversations
Cut the Silenceis an exciting new campaign to get men in the Macedon Ranges talking about mental health. Five local barbers received training on how to identify and talk to customers who appear to be struggling with their mental health. These barbers are now well placed to point men towards the right professional support if they want it.
Watch thevideos, in which Macedon Ranges-based actor Shane Jacobson chats with his friends, including comedians Tom Gleeson, Stephen Curry and other local legends.
Cut the Silence was produced by Macedon Ranges Suicide Prevention Action Group with funding from NWMPHN and support from Sunbury and Cobaw Community Health.
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New lifesaving oral treatments for COVID-19 are now available
People who contract COVID-19 and are considered high risk of severe illness can now access oral antiviral treatments. They help fight infection and can be taken at home.
You will need a prescription and they must be taken as soon as possible after symptoms begin.
If you are in a high risk group, talk to your healthcare professional now to be prepared.
High-risk groups:
- People 70 years and over
- People 50 years and over with 2 risk factors
- People 18 years and over who are immunocompromised
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples 30 years and over with 2 risk factors
For more information and to find out if you’re eligible, click here.
Check Back: Will you check to get it right?
Did you know that many of us will forget up to 80% of the information a health worker tells us as soon as we leave the appointment?
Northern Health, Safer Care Victoria, Monash University, Monash Health and Ballarat Health Services have developed a website featuring a module that will help you build your skills and confidence to check your understanding before you leave a health appointment.
Check out the website for more information.
Doctors in Secondary Schools –
changing kids futures, one day a week
This year we celebrate 5 years of theDoctors in Secondary Schools (DiSS) program.
Wedderburn College is part of this multimillion dollar State Government funded program that puts GP-nurse teams in 100 eligible Victorian schools one day a week during term. A campaign to find new DiSS clinicians and nurses is now underway. Watch the our video here.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup self-raising flour
- 1 cup Greek or natural yoghurt
- olive or canola oil spray
Method
- Preheat oven to 200°C (180°C fan forced).
- In a bowl, combine the flour and half the yoghurt. Mix together, adding a little more yoghurt at a time until you get a soft dough. If it gets too sticky, add more flour.
- Turn out onto a floured board. Knead for 5-8 minutes.
- Roll into a pizza shape and place on a lightly oiled oven tray.
- Prick the dough all over with a fork.
- Cook pizza dough in oven for 8-10 minutes.
- Remove cooked dough from oven and add your selection of toppings.
- Return pizza to oven and cook for an additional 10 minutes or until toppings are cooked through.
Recipe courtesy of LiveLighter.
Want to get more involved?
Our People Bank is a register of people who would like to help us to improve the health of people in north western Melbourne.
