Why do we need CPHs in mental health

services?

Victoria is home to people from more than 200 nations, speaking more than 230 languages and dialects and following more than 120 faiths. More information about Victoria and multiculturalism can be found here.

The preamble to the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities declares that "human rights belong to all people without discrimination and the diversity of the people of Victoria enhances our community".  Click here to download the Victorian Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities document.

The Victorian Mental health Act includes among its objectives "to establish, develop, promote, assist and encourage mental health services which – take into account the age-related, gender-related, religious, cultural, language and other special needs of people with a mental disorder" (cited in Minas 2009/08)

And yet…

A recent investigation of mental health service use by members of Victoria's ethnic communities found that while people from non-English-speaking countries (NESC) comprise 20% of Victoria's population, those from NESC comprise only 13% of community clients and 15% of inpatients. People from NESB present late in the course of a disorder; there were more diagnoses of psychoses, more frequent contacts, inpatient admissions were more likely, more involuntary admissions and longer inpatient stays. People with non-psychotic disorders are, it seems, less inclined to seek treatment (Stolk, Minas, Klimidis 2008). Click here to download a copy of the Access Report.

The VTPU's mission is to "strengthen the capacity of Victoria's mental health system to provide effective, equitable and cultural appropriate services to Victoria's CALD population". To this end, we are committed to forming partnerships with mental health services and community organisations and working with CPHs.

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