The Victorian Government is developing a Framework and Blueprint for Action to improve the mental health and wellbeing of diverse communities.
The Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System found that diverse communities experienced many barriers to good mental health and wellbeing, including the following:
- People can experience discrimination and stigma related to mental illness as well as their diverse backgrounds, identities and attributes
- Sometimes mental health supports are difficult to find out about or access
- Mental health services might not be safe, inclusive or responsive to the needs of people from diverse communities
- People from diverse communities can have unequal access to the things that keep them from becoming unwell in the first place.
We want to build on this knowledge by hearing from diverse communities and the organisations and services that support, represent and care for them.
We are working with people from to diverse communities to design the Framework and Blueprint, and we want to hear your ideas about what the Victorian Government can do over the coming decade to better serve diverse communities and improve their mental health and wellbeing.
Who we would we like to hear from
The Mental Health and Wellbeing Division of the Department of Health would like to hear from people from diverse communities as well as the organisations and services that represent and work with them to support and promote mental health and wellbeing.
The Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System (the Royal Commission) has defined ‘diverse communities’ in Victoria as:
- culturally and linguistically diverse communities
- LGBTIQ+ people
- people with disability.
We know that people might be part of more than one of the above communities, as well as have a range of other identities, characteristics and attributes.
You might also:
- have your own lived or living experiences of mental illness or psychological distress, either as a consumer or a family member, carer or supporter
- work with diverse communities in health, community, service or related settings.
How to take part
You can provide feedback via a survey form to the Victorian Government on the Engage Victoria platform now. Have your say via the Engage Victoria
We have published a report that outlines what we have heard so far in our engagement process. Read the report and share your feedback about anything else we could be doing to support the mental health and wellbeing of Victoria’s diverse communities.
Survey form will close on Tuesday 30 May 2023.
Related engagement activities
The Mental Health and Wellbeing Division is leading a number of reforms that will support and improve the mental health and wellbeing of diverse communities. This engagement will help develop the Diverse Communities Framework and Blueprint for Action, which focuses on culturally and linguistically diverse communities, LGBTIQ+ people and people with disability. You might be interested in some other key engagements that are currently underway.
Victorian suicide prevention and response strategy
The suicide prevention and response strategy will take a whole-of-government and community-wide approach so we can better prevent and respond to suicide, and includes a focus on diverse communities.
Learn more about upcoming engagement to support the development of the
Statewide Wellbeing Plan
The Statewide Wellbeing Plan will use a statewide approach to promote good mental health and wellbeing and prevent mental illness, including for diverse communities.
Learn more about opportunities to contribute to the Statewide Wellbeing
Please note that if you are part of any of these engagements and provide input that is relevant to one of the other reforms, we will make sure your feedback is provided to the right team so it can inform the relevant strategies.
Reviewed 03 May 2023