{"id":67880,"date":"2014-05-16T22:18:26","date_gmt":"2014-05-16T12:18:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=67880"},"modified":"2020-11-30T16:11:29","modified_gmt":"2020-11-30T06:11:29","slug":"mi-networks-spreads-the-word","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2014\/05\/16\/mi-networks-spreads-the-word\/","title":{"rendered":"Mi Networks Spreads The Word"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Julie Blundell and Louise Judge, from Centacare South Burnett, with Mary-Anne Quilter from the Mental Illness Fellowship of Queensland<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

May 16, 2014<\/strong><\/p>\n

A program that has the potential to assist people with mental illness in regional and remote Australia was explained at information sessions in Kingaroy today.<\/p>\n

Mi Networks is not a crisis line. Instead, it is an information resource aimed at people who have a question about mental illness or are looking for support in the local community but don\u2019t know where to start.<\/p>\n

Mary-Anne Quilter, from the Mental Illness Fellowship Queensland, spoke to professional health workers before hosting a session for the general public.<\/p>\n

She told southburnett.com.au<\/strong> she had also tried to contact all the local “go to” people, ie the people most likely to be approached by someone with a mental health issue, including GPs, schools, church leaders, service clubs, police, fire brigade, ambulance, employment agencies and community organisations.<\/p>\n

Mi Networks aims to help people to access different services – people living with a mental illness, carers, employers etc.<\/p>\n

“It’s a whole of community response,” Mary-Anne said.<\/p>\n

To access Mi Networks, phone 1800-985-944 from Monday to Friday (8:30am to 4:30pm) or visit the Mi Networks website<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Callers are connected to an experienced mental health worker who can provide up-to-date information about mental health concerns and answer questions.<\/p>\n

Mi Networks staff can also assist by linking people to a broad range of services in the local area including housing, employment, support groups and other community services.<\/p>\n

Mary-Anne said the service was free, confidential and could be accessed from anywhere in Australia.<\/p>\n

It was launched on World Mental Health Day in 2012 and is funded by the Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia.<\/p>\n

The roadtrip to promote the service – which has so far visited Stanthorpe, Warwick, Maryborough, Bundaberg and Gympie and will go to Biloela, Blackwater and Emerald – has been sponsored by the Aussie Farmers Foundation.<\/p>\n