2008 No 3 - Comorbidity II -

This edition is the final in a two-part series on comorbidity that focuses on mental illness and disabilities or physical illness in culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities. While the first edition explored the link between mental illness, and alcohol and drug abuse, this edition investigates the issues surrounding mental illness and physical disability, as well as mental illness and other health conditions such as cancer, obesity and diabetes.

People with mental illness are among the most marginalised people in our community. The consequences of mental illness often extend beyond the direct symptoms of the illness to affect people’s social and economic well being and all aspects of their lives. Worldwide research indicates that people with a mental illness have a higher incidence of physical health problems.

Considering the stigma associated with mental illness amongst CALD communities and the isolation this brings to some families, often these factors lead people from CALD backgrounds to not access services. Sadly by not receiving adequate healthcare in relation to their health needs, their additional physical illnesses often go undiagnosed and untreated.

This edition of Comorbidity II highlights new endeavours in the mental health sector that are combating these problems.

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Online Articles

Courage and sheer determination: Consumer, Ned Zivak
Margaret El-Chami

Sixty-year-old Nedeljko Zivak still carries the scars of the Bosnian war. He walks around with shrapnel in his hip and the nightmares.

Better care for CALD cancer patients with Professor Phyllis Butow and Ming Sze from PoCoG
Margaret El-Chami

The prevalence of psychological disorders in English-speaking cancer patients is well documented.

Tasmanian Transcultural Mental Health Network
by Gillian Long from the Phoenix Centre, Hobart

The Tasmanian State Government has extended its commitment to supporting people with mental illness from CALD backgrounds by awarding the Migrant Resource Centre (Southern Tasmania) $15,000 to establish and manage the Tasmanian Transcultural Mental Health Network.

I didn’t know what to do: Carer, Amar
Margaret El-Chami

Arabic carer, Amar (not her real name), says she initially had no true understanding of her husband’s depression and while she did read up about it, nothing she read seemed to relate to his situation.

Improving the physical health of people with SMI
Karen Hale-Robertson, General Practice Queensland and Sarah Scott, COAG Mental Health Team, Queensland Health

Current research indicates that the physical health of people with severe mental illness (SMI) is signifi cantly worse compared with the general population.

Being a Consumer Researcher
Evan Bichara from the VTPU at St Vincent’s Hospital, Melbourne

As a mental health consumer at St Vincent’s Hospital in Melbourne, I’ve been inspired to fill the gap of the inadequate number of “consumer researchers” in the mental health sector.