Mallee Minds in Mildura, Victoria | Mental health service

Mallee Minds

Locality: Mildura, Victoria

Phone: +61 491 192 080

Address: 4/120 Eighth St 3500 Mildura, VIC, Australia

Website: http://www.malleeminds.com.au

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• Medical and health
• Mental health service
• Counsellor

25.01.2022 Some good news this week - I have been accepted into La Trobe University to do a Masters in Social Work, starting next year. I attempted to start a Masters of Counselling earlier this year, however I required an operation that put that off the rails. While it's still a way off from starting, I'm excited! My wife did say several years ago she thought this would be a good direction - proof that I do listen to her (eventually!). One of the benefits over Counselling is Social Wor...kers can provide Specialist Support Coordination through the NDIS. Specialising as a Mental Health Social Worker would also open up more avenues and is my goal. I've also tinkered a little with the Mallee Minds website, moving the Covid-19 information to a dedicated page and updating some specifics about Psychosocial Recovery Coaching such as my pricing. I'm working on the front page so the panorama doesn't detract from the usability. My wife and I have started a diet, too. We have been enthusiastically supporting local businesses during lockdown! That enthusiasm won't stop - it will just be redirected. I hope you're all having a safe week. Take some time, when you can, to give someone a call and see how they're going.

25.01.2022 Mallee Minds will be closed Monday and Tuesday next week for the Victorian public holiday. Standing appointments have been rescheduled, however I will be unavailable over the long weekend. Balancing yourself across demands can often feel like driving the Great Ocean Road - it's beautiful when you're going well, but a little bit either way and you're in strife. On the one hand, people rely on you. But on the other hand, you need to take care of yourself. Covid has stretched a...nd buckled that balance for a lot of people, even more so if you're working through mental health challenges. Working from home, home schooling, travel restrictions, businesses changing and closing, unemployment and job volitility, changing restrictions and everything else all push and pull at you. Negotiating time out to recharge/regroup can be difficult too. It puts stress on others and can make domestic responsibilites and relationships, for example, a cause of conflict. I don't have an easy solution as to how you manage this problem. There's no "one rule", however fair negotiation is vital. But have a look at this photo below - you can see there's space for the cars to park and people can stretch their legs. And take in the view. Sometimes you might not know when the next stopping point is or if it's full, so sometimes you just need to find a spot.

24.01.2022 One of the most important learning experiences for me happened a few years ago when I worked in child protection. Heading to Broken Hill for some training, I remarked on how there was nothing out there when I looked out the window. An Aboriginal caseworker in the car politely corrected me. On that trip you actually pass through several different clan groups, but my eyes could only see the scrub and the desert. I've carried this lesson for several years and it sends a really ...important message aside from being culturally aware - having a guide to point things out from time to time on a journey can vastly broaden your perspective and leave a lasting impact. As a counsellor, I've taken on board what was said and use that as one of the major pillars in my practice. Having someone else there to point out things you can't always see for any number of reasons. See more

24.01.2022 I find this utterly fascinating - the shopping cart theory. I've had some heated conversations around this quite specific and everyday occurence. It's wonderful because in a very basic way it forces you to consider the experiences of others, how we relate to each other and how we handle responsibility. How do you manage kids on a hot Mildura day? The trolley collector has a job? Does that person honestly not care about others? What about someone with a disability? We often us...e the behaviour of others as an indication of their character - Fundamental Attribution Error. It's a shortcut your brain uses to help make assessments of people. However the error occurs due to the different standard you assess your own behaviour. While you might forget to return the trolley, someone seeing this might conclude you're lazy and inconsiderate (not seeing your screaming kids in the back seat or knowing your partner is being tested for cancer). It's also infuriating having to shift one straddling parking lines and a bit depressing seeing them scattered around on nature strips. You can choose to draw grander conclusions about the decay of town character and civic regard. Or you can acknowledge it as a minor inconvenience or even a chance to walk one back to the store. But who wants to touch a sun-scorched trolley in Summer that's been there for how long? How you approach this 'theory' and how you process the consequences are a far better measure of a person than simply judging a stranger from a far. https://www.boredpanda.com/return-shopping-cart-theory-ult/

24.01.2022 Going to be talking about suicide. Yesterday was World Suicide Prevention Day and R U OK Day. On an average day in Australia, eight people are victims of suicide and six of these eight are men. And this is using stats from 2017. Data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare puts suicide as the 5th leading cause of death at 1-14 years from 2016-2018. Then it leaps to 1st for 15-24 and 25-44 before sliding back to 3rd at 45-64. 2020 is unlikely to have an impact on t...hese rankings, however there will more than likely be a significant increase in raw numbers. One of the many reasons suicides are awkwardly reported is due to a phenomenon called "Suicide Contagion", where a single event can create a cluster. And if you noticed yesterday, there are a plethora of campaigns and services provided for people when they're vulnerable. Way back in 2015 I saw a TED Talk (link below) and it changed my perspective considerably towards a single issue - the death penalty. Up until that point, I was very supportive of it being reinstated for serious crimes. However this talk illustrated the absurditiy of it and the cost to the state and individuals. The arguement is that money spent at the end of that story would be far better spent at the earlier points to prevent the problem in the first place. An ounce of prevention... This philosophy is very portable and is especially useful when addressing suicide, particularly the over-representation of males. While there is a demand for crisis services such as internet and phone support, far more is required at the earlier parts of these stories. R U OK? is a great way to get conversations happening and conversations build networks and chip away at the stigma. Access to affordable and available services is the next step and the Covid-based extension of the Medicare limit is a great step. But does it address the chronic shortages in services, particularly in rural, regional and remote areas? Not much. There are a huge number of things that could be done, such as manipulating Medicare to pay more to professionals working in RRR areas or significant discounts of university debt. Telehealth might address some of these problems and it could easily be tweeked to favour high-risk groups and locations. If you do one thing today, watch this talk. Yes, it's US-based, but the thinking behind it should be far more widespread. https://www.ted.com//david_r_dow_lessons_from_death_row_in

23.01.2022 Update: More equipment has arrived and I've signed a lease, looking to get some keys next Friday. I will update the address when things are confirmed. Very excited!

22.01.2022 It feels a bit like we, Mildura, are being squeezed right now - border controls to the North and West, and the concerning new cases in the Greater Bendigo Area which are just 400km down the road. Obviously maintaining social distancing and minimising travel is still the go, but what about some internal precautions? 1. Get outside - your backyard, the park for exercise, out in the garden. It's far too easy to spend a day on the couch, especially when it's this cold! 2. Stay in... contact with your friends and family - not only can you check in with them, but you can also maintain some sort of community. Doubly so if they live in any of the lockdown areas. 3. Minimise the news - it might seem counter-intuitive when we need so much information, but it's so easy to become weighed down by the sheer weight of bad news, which can easily set the tone for how we view the world. 4. Support local - Yes, it's difficult, especially with all the uncertainty around. But that's exactly why you need to do this! It'll make you feel better as well as others. It can be as simple as trying somewhere you've never eaten before. We can do this.

19.01.2022 In July this year, the NDIS created a new item for participants - Psychosocial Recovery Coach. The objective is a more flexible and specialised form of support coordination participants can benefit from. Mallee Minds is proud to be one of the very few local providers of this service. I bring to the table NDIS experience, experience in Mental Health as well as a network of services and people both locally and further away. I also have the independence and flexibility you may not find in other service providers. If you are interested in this service, please click below which will take you to the Mallee Minds' PRC page. You can also talk to your Local Area Coordinator about how you can improve your plan. https://malleeminds.com.au//psychosocial-recovery-coaching/

19.01.2022 What might seem like a little thing to you, may well be of necessity, comfort and great relief to others.

18.01.2022 Searching "reading body language" can get you the phone book of pseudo-psychological rubbish normally fit for guests on reality tv shows, "social commentators" or interviewed royal family stalkers. It's not too distant from the Fundamental Attribution Error I wrote about with shopping trolleys - you're drawing conclusions based on limited information supplied from some potentially complex sources. Brains are lazy, seeking and assessing risk very quickly. If your ancestors did...n't do that, you wouldn't be here. You have probably noticed recently how much you rely on someone's mouth when you're interacting with wearing masks. It's made that "identifying and assessing" process much harder. If you happen to be someone who uses lips to understand people, it's obviously much harder. This will no doubt contribute to isolation further as we work through the six week period of stage 3/4 in Victoria, along with all the other measures in place. Sort out a zoom meeting with your family, relatives or friends to stay in touch and talk to people as normally as possible. Get on the phone and do the same. Not only are you checking in with others, it also maintains some sort of normality about communicating. Humans are social creatures, so make sure that social muscle gets exercise where it can.

14.01.2022 Google My Business verification postcard arrived today!

13.01.2022 Support Coordination for self- and plan-managed NDIS participants is now being offered at Mallee Minds, a fantastic compliment to Psychosocial Recovery Coaching services. Contact me or your Local Area Coordinator if you are interested.

13.01.2022 Huge THANK YOU to https://www.facebook.com/justrandomadds for helping me come up with a last-minute design that's featured on pg 14 of today's Mildura Weekly (https://digital.milduraweekly.com.au//friday-/flipbook/14/)! She designed the minimalist picture of me without grey hair so I'm pretty darn chuffed about that. I pitched a different idea to Mildura Weekly and they came up with the completed design below, which I could not be happier with. There are some wonderful, creative and talented artists in Mildura and I'm proud to be at the receiving end!

11.01.2022 Today across Victoria we're all wearing masks out in public. I have updated the Mallee Minds website which includes the option of wearing a mask while in the office. This is not a stand against anything - counselling requires clear annunciation. Social distancing will still apply, and hand sanitiser is available. In addition, telephone and Skype appointments are also available. If you don't feel well, stay at home. If you experience symptoms, get yourself tested and isolate u...ntil you get the results. Further announcements are due later today, so if there are any changes I will post them here and on the website. I will continue to post issues and some basic exercises that can help ward off some of the mental health issues that can arise during this time, expanding on some of the basic tips I've already posted. This will place additional stress on us and our region, reaching everywhere across education, economy, social interaction, health, law enforcement, family, friends, colleagues and more. Not knowing what's ahead can be stressful at the best of times, so this will amplify that and other issues. We've already proved we're capable of doing our bit and the absence of local cases over months is proof. Take care of yourself and take care of others as we prove ourselves again. https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/face-coverings-covid-19

11.01.2022 As featured in today's Mildura Weekly: Shoutout to One Sweet Day Films: https://www.onesweetdayfilms.com/

11.01.2022 Apologies for the second update in as many days - I had to update the phone number here and on the website.

07.01.2022 Hi everyone. Thank you for all the lovely support. I'm still in the process of arranging a space and at this stage it looks as though mid-July will be an official open. I'm still working on my website, however it is up and running. While we wind back Covid-19 restrictions, it's a great chance to reflect on that period of time, specifically the things that were good and bad. For our region, there were considerable job losses and the increased closed businesses around town should indicate the impact felt. Please take a moment to check up on your friends, your family and even your colleagues. I will be posting updates and other interesting things leading up to mid-July, so please stay tuned.

07.01.2022 I try to post something interesting on Fridays. I could talk about the irony of trying three times to write about media and the difficulty of reporting suicide victims. So many issues involved. In the end I decided some homework might be in order for the weekend. I'm going to do it and I encourage you to as well. A while ago a friend of mine from school called me. We have the kind of friendship where we can now comfortably sit after no words in six months and reconnect - a lu...xury that thirty years of friendship as now married men can afford. He left a message some time ago and I've put off calling him back. I regret it, but I don't seem to be able to make the time to call him back. When I get space, there's plenty to fill it with and I've got an awful memory. Writing about suicide did make me reflect on how I connect with my family and friends and how often victims of suicide rarely seem to fit a mould when described by friends and family. It often comes as a shock followed by lots of ultimately unanswered questions. This weekend, talk to a bloke. A friend, family member, old school friend, whoever. Make some time to speak to them. Why? Because 6 out of 8 victims of suicide each day in Australia are men and in 2018, that represented twice as many *people* killed on Australia's roads. Find someone who might not be doing so well. Or find someone who is. Doesn't really matter because mental health doesn't discriminate. Pick at the veneer while you're at it - sometimes men can be excellent at hiding what they're carrying.

04.01.2022 Tomorrow is World Mental Health Day, which this year is particularly important. Pick up the phone and call someone. Your parents. Your kids. Your partner. Your neighbour. Your friend from last week who you forgot to call back. Your local coffee person who knows your name and order but you've forgotten theirs and it's been too long so now it's just awkward (if you have your barista's phone number - go you!). Check in with them. Yes, we've done RUOK day a month ago, but do it again. Same person. Different person. More than one person. I'm not lazily trying to recycle an idea. Having support networks is really important and maintaining them takes a little but means a hell of a lot. And it's not just give. They might be fine, but you might also be starting the conversation about how you're not going well. Get to it!

03.01.2022 Today marks the start of some local advertising, kicking off with this great ad in today's Mildura Weekly. No doubt many of you will have heard the news that from Monday, Victorians will need to wear face masks in public. The news yesterday sparked a run on masks and supplies accross the state will end up short no doubt. Some locals have got to work making them and chipping in. DHHS have provided instructions (linked below) to make your own. Less known is that DHHS are also i...n the process of arranging masks provided to vulnerable Victorians (also linked below). There's quite a bit of info on that link, explaining who and how it all works. If you're an agency worker or know someone who would benefit from this, please do not hesitate to let them know or ensure the program is circulated to clients. It's very frustrating to be stuck in what feels like a vice - restricted border travel to the North and increasing numbers coming from the South. Despite "we're all in this together", we've never had this level of divison so obvious. Please take care of yourselves and keep up with the precautions like essential travel, hygiene and social distancing. In a July 13th post I encouraged people to limit their intake of news, keep busy and remain in (responsible) contact with friends and family. As things feel as though they're getting worse, I reiterate those suggestions. https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/reusable-face-masks-covid-19 https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au//Design%20and%20preparation%20

02.01.2022 One of my objectives was to create a comfortable space that also reflected the uniqueness of our region. I wanted images that not only reminded us of the beauty, but also spoke of our strengths and resiliance - crucial aspects of therapy. Of equal imporance was the wish to support local artists during this very difficult time for everyone. There are some very talented photographers in our region and it's well-worth discovering them. These wonderful prints were supplied by Steve who runs Vast Depth Photography and now hang proudly in the office. https://www.facebook.com/vastdepthphotography/

02.01.2022 On Monday I attended a Psychosocial Recovery Coaching workshop, which was great. I got to meet lots of other coaches from around the country and I reached out to another who was just starting out. It was the first and as far as I know only training for this role. I was also able to road-test the Telehealth set up from the previous post which did not skip a beat! PRC is coming up to it's third month with the NDIS and it's been great getting to know and work with participants using that support. I've also got to know some great people and agencies around town which I would not have without PRC.