Ensuring Mental Health Support for All in NSW
Tamil Advocates Call for Inclusion of Multicultural Communities in NSW Government's Mental Health Funding.
June 2024, Sydney NSW
Thadam, a mental health organisation and a leading advocate for multicultural communities, is calling on the NSW Government to address the glaring oversight of multicultural communities in its recent announcement of a $111.8 million package to support community mental health. While the funding aims to enhance mental health services, it fails to specifically address the unique needs and challenges faced by multicultural communities.
According to recent statistics, multicultural communities experience significant mental health disparities, including language barriers, cultural stigma, and limited access to culturally appropriate resources. These factors contribute to a lack of awareness, underutilisation of services, and inadequate support for mental health issues within these communities.
Thadam applauds the NSW Government's commitment to improving mental health services, but it is important to ensure multicultural communities are not overlooked. By neglecting to allocate specific funding and initiatives for multicultural communities, we risk perpetuating the existing disparities and leaving vulnerable individuals without the support they desperately need.
Thadam, is urging the NSW Government to take immediate action to rectify this oversight by:
Allocating dedicated funding - the government should allocate a portion of the funding to initiatives that specifically address the mental health needs of multicultural communities. This includes funding for culturally appropriate services, language support, and community engagement programs.
Enhancing cultural specific programs that are community led
Collaborating with multicultural organisations - the government should actively engage with multicultural organisations and community leaders to gain insights into the unique challenges faced by these communities and develop targeted strategies to address them.
Promoting awareness and destigmatisation - public awareness campaigns should be launched to address cultural stigma surrounding mental health within multicultural communities led by the community. These campaigns should emphasise the importance of seeking help and highlight available culturally appropriate resources.
Thadam stands ready to collaborate with the NSW Government, mental health professionals, and community stakeholders to ensure the inclusion of multicultural communities in mental health initiatives and funding. Together, we can create a more equitable and accessible mental health system that meets the diverse needs of all individuals in NSW.