It’s the outcome of a two-year project conducted in three phases, including consultation with interpreters, mental health practitioners and senior managers, consumers and carers, consolidation and design based on a review of consultation advice and current literature, and resource development to produce new materials, update our online learning module and prepare a project report.
Approaching work with interpreters in mental health settings includes a tri-fold booklet, a series of videos and a practice tips poster. We also documented the work in a Project Report. Click here to download a copy of the report, and to find out how you can access all the resources.
Stories of Carers from Refugee and Migrant Backgrounds.
Each narrative is told in the carer’s original language, and has been subtitled in English. Each narrative has also been voice dubbed into the five community languages, Arabic, Vietnamese, Turkish, Dari and Somali, and these videos are available on DVD from Victorian Transcultural Mental Health.
Click on the images below to watch each narrative in its original language and subtitled in English.
The films explore the lives of five carers from Afghani, Egyptian, Somali, Turkish and Vietnamese communities. The carers speak independently, yet collectively, of common difficulties encountered in advocating for culturally sensitive and culturally-responsive mental health care and the benefits of seeking support. The stories of the carers have been uniquely captured via the collaboration and support of many leading mental health, carer and multi-cultural organisations (see these below) and produced by the Australian film house, Digital Black.
VTMH would like to thank all the individual storytellers, their families and friends, the film-makers, Digital Black, support workers and everyone who contributed to the making of this extraordinary project. The participants and organisers hope it encourages people to seek support and to share their experiences.
Mr Ly
Mr Ly
Mr Ly came to Australia by boat in 1980. He and his wife have been caring for their son full time since 2001 with the help of a Vietnamese carer support group. Vietnamese with English subtitles.
Kevser
Kevser
Kevser has been the primary carer for her daughter for many years. Joining a carer support group gave her the courage to negotiate the stigma attached to her daughter’s illness. Turkish with English subtitles.
Amina
Amina
Amina’s brother was diagnosed with a mental illness soon after arriving in Australia. Amina is a social worker, works with her community and explores negative perceptions about mental illness. Somali with English subtitles.
Said
Said
Said is an engineer and an accredited interpreter. He works as carer consultant and is passionate about advocating for the needs of carers. Arabic with English subtitles.
Arefa
Arefa
Arefa is from Afghanistan and talks about her experience in caring for her father was diagnosed with anxiety/depression. Dari with English subtitles.
Ordering a copy of the DVD
A limited number of hard copies of the DVDs were produced to coincide with the launch of this resource in October 2014. Hard copies of the DVD series, complete with an information kit about the project, can be requested. Expressions of interest will also help identify demand and potential for pursuing options for further print runs. You can register your interest in ordering hard copy of the DVDs by clicking the button below.
Inspiring stories of people living with emotional and mental health issues.
These were created during a four-day workshop in 2014 led by film-makers, practitioners and researchers. Each storyteller wrote, voiced, created and edited their own film.
The storytellers are from culturally diverse backgrounds. They decided that ‘Finding our way’ captured the collective message of the stories.
The project and the stories are discussed in these texts:
Childhood memories, moving to a new country, feelings of isolation and efforts to connect are among the experiences that inspired Akeemi’s healing “letter to self”, with original drawings and paintings.
My Faith, My Anchor, Chandima
My Faith, My Anchor, Chandima
Chandima’s story is about migration from Sri Lanka, faith in God and her family: inspirations for personal recovery and the desire to help others.
Doe Doh’s Story, Doe Doh
Doe Doh’s Story, Doe Doh
A harsh childhood lived on the Thai-Burma border, yearning for freedom and seizing the possibilities of ‘now’. Karen with English subtitles.
Psychiatric Superhero, James
Psychiatric Superhero, James
The author voices scenes from his graphic novel about a light warrior’s deep inner struggles and his resolve to overcome them.
Spreading Joy, Kim
Spreading Joy, Kim
Origami, laughter, good food, kindness: Kim’s ingredients for a fulfilled life and taking a positive approach to recovery. Mandarin with English subtitles.
Linh’s Story, Linh
Linh’s Story, Linh
Linh discusses overcoming severe mental illness with the help of her loving family, feeling welcome in new country and going on holidays. Vietnamese with English subtitles.
The Visual Conductor, Maria
The Visual Conductor, Maria
A story about family expectations, taking charge and staying well involving art, personal goals and play.
Becoming, Nevena
Becoming, Nevena
From civil war, loss and uncertainty to safety: a refugee’s unfolding story. A lifelong journey toward happiness and inner peace.
I am Colours, Tuan
I am Colours, Tuan
“Colours within me connect me to colours around me.” Tuan sews beautiful hand-made objects and uses his keen sense of colour to connect with other people and the world around him.
About these stories
Who owns these stories? Each digital story is original, owned by its creator and was made to be shared. The storytellers have licensed ACMI, and sublicensed VTMH (and other agencies named as MHiMA consortium members in 2014) to distribute these stories. We welcome agencies and individuals linking to this webpage, however, the videos should not be uploaded to websites without seeking additional permission.
Can we use these videos for education purposes? Yes. The stories may be used for study, teaching or training purposes subject to an acknowledgement of the source. For monitoring and evaluation purposes, please let VTMH know when you use the material in training or add a link to your website. Enquiries concerning reproduction and rights for purposes other than those indicated above should be addressed to VTMH.
Why won’t the videos play on my computer? The videos will play using most internet browsers but you may experience difficulties, beyond VTMH’s control, if you use an old browser version.
Acknowledgements Each digital story is original and owned by its creator. The project was created and developed by two member agencies of the Mental Health in Multicultural Australia (MHiMA) project — Victorian Transcultural Mental Health (VTMH), St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne and the Centre for International Mental Health (CIMH) at the University of Melbourne — in conjunction with the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI). Project coordination for MHiMA by Erminia Colucci & Susan McDonough. Presented by the Digital Story-telling Program of ACMI, 2014.
Presented by
Thank you
Thank you to all the individual storytellers, their families and friends, the film-makers, support workers and everyone else who helped in the telling of these stories. The participants and organisers hope these stories encourage others to share their experiences.
Campaigns
Find below information about some of our key campaigns.
