ACT, Belconnen - Mental Health ACT COPMI Health Promotion Initiative

The COPMI initiative aims to promote the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people who have a parent affected by mental illness. The initiative engages with Mental Health ACT and the broader community. Its key functions include coordination, training, networking, resource promotion, awareness raising and consultation. An intersectoral Steering Committee guides the initiative. It aims to improve the ACT communities identification, response and support of COPMI families and enhance the opportunities to develop the communities capacity to provide appropriate and sustainable interventions and programs to address the varying needs of this population.

Planned.

The Mental Health ACT COPMI Health Promotion Initiative is based on both national, international research and evidence that specifically states that children with parents affected by mental illness are at an increased risk of poor psychosocial outcomes. The intersectoral approach to address the needs of COPMI has been shown by authors such as Cowling, V. and Campbell, L. to be best practice. The initiative fits well into the identified priorities of National Mental Health Plan, Mental Health Promotion, Prevention and Early Intervention National Strategic Plan and ACT Mental Health Strategy and Action Plan and AICAFMHA Principles and Actions for Services and People Working with COPMI.

The Mental Health ACT COPMI Health Promotion Initiative does not provide clinical support to COPMI families, however it is a useful resource and link to clinical support for COPMI families and services working with COPMI families.