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.

This edition of Synergy is dedicated to our colleague, Dr Steven Klimidis from the Victorian Transcultural Psychiatry Unit and the Centre for International Mental Health. Dr Klimidis’ sudden and premature death is still being mourned by many people around the world. He was regarded as a pioneer in transcultural psychiatry in Australia and we commemorate his tireless work in this field.

This edition, titled Comorbidity I, is the first in a two-part series on comorbidity that focuses on mental illness and alcohol/drug abuse in culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities.

The second edition will explore issues surrounding mental illness and chronic conditions such as cancer, obesity and diabetes.

This edition of Synergy, titled Holistic Care, features a variety of articles that highlight different approaches to treating mental illness.

A number of authors explore the cultural factors surrounding the adherence of medication amongst people from CALD backgrounds.

Other articles tap into alternative approaches to recovery including exercise, massage and aromatherapy.

This edition also features highlights from the recent national Diversity In Health (DIH) Conference held in Sydney where Professor Anthony J. Marsella, Ph.D. from the USA was one of the keynote speakers.

During Professor Marsella's visit down under he hosted a workshop on culture, psychopathology and service delivery at a special forum on the mental health needs of CALD communities living in South Australia. This event was hosted by Multicultural Mental Health Australia (MMHA).

Professor Marsella also made a special contribution to this edition with an article on ten key points for transcultural mental health professionals. This can be found on page 18.

This edition also includes information about MMHA's new CALD Consumer Reference Group as well as all the regular features.

This edition of Synergy reflects on the struggles that young people face – especially those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

It taps into their stories of trying to be accepted, the challenge of caring for a parent living with a mental illness and the various initiatives that have been developed to provide these young people with a safe space where they can be themselves.

Young Vouces was inspired by the winners of MMHA’s inaugural national art competition, I Identify – My Identity.

All three winners were young women who had recently immigrated to Australia. In coordinating the media coverage of the competition, I learnt about their personal struggles and how they successfully rose above these.

While these personal challenges could have impacted on their mental health, all three have proven to be very strong spirited people with healthy outlooks on life.

Their sheer resilience is highly admirable and somewhat overwhelming, and celebrated in this edition by a special four-page liftout of the art competition.

I hope the young voices and issues featured in this edition inspire you and help give other young people from CALD backgrounds a louder voice.

This edition of Synergy highlights the strength and courage of Australia’s migrant population. It captures how resilient some migrants are even after enduring personal horrors, hardships and struggles of fleeing war-torn countries and persecution.

Some of the following articles will reflect on the true stories of families being separated or destroyed through war, massacres, starvation, disease and political turmoil. They will also tell of the struggles migrants experience while trying to forge a new life in Australia - the battle to be accepted and understood, the challenge of overcoming language and cultural barriers and finally finding peace of mind.

Sadly finding peace of mind is a long journey for many even after their resettlement. This edition also reflects on the various service providers who are attempting to resolve this. 

In this edition, we complete our two-part series on Cultural Competency in mental health. In the last edition, we explored organisational and strategic overviews of cultural competency, primarily focusing on the definition of cultural competency and how it’s applied to mental health services.

In this edition we take the concept further by illustrating examples of how mental health services are meeting cultural competency standards – the checks and balances that are in place.

We also focus on a variety on Australian and international models that are making a huge difference in the way mental health services are better reaching consumers from CALD backgrounds.

This issue begins a two-part focus by Synergy on the broad field of cultural competency in mental health.

A special full-colour edition of Synergy focusing on the role of creativity and the arts in the promotion of good mental health and the effective treatment of mental health problems.

Please note:  the online articles in this edition do not contain images.  To see the beautiful images that accompany the articles, view the PDF or order a hard copy from MMHA.

The aim of this edition is to explore the concept of stigma and why it is such a burden to people affected by a mental illness and more so for people from a CALD background. This edition is one of the most comprehensive with a range of articles including research and initiatives that have been introduced both here and over seas to help reduce stigma associated with mental illness.

Welcome to this edition of Synergy, focusing on the Diversity in Health Conference “It’s everybody’s business” 2005. Melbourne provided the backdrop for this year’s Diversity in Health Conference and with 140 nations living side by side in one city it seemed an appropriate location to focus on diversity in health.

For culturally and linguistically diverse families in Australia past experiences can be as diverse as their culture. The aim of this edition is to explore the significance of the family in diverse communities and the challenges mental health consumers, their families and communities face.

This edition introduces and explores the concept of social inclusion and what it means for culturally and linguistically diverse mental health consumers and their families.

This edition explores understandings and issues of recovery for consumers from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

This special edition of Synergy, focusing on depression in Australia's multicultural community, was developed jointly by MMHA and beyondblue: the national depression initiative.

This edition explores a range of issues critical to the mental health, well being and recovery of mental health consumers from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

The Hon Gary Hardgrave, Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, officially launched Multicultural Mental Health Australia (MMHA) and the MMHA website at the Diversity in Health Conference 2003. In this edition we focus on cultural competence, and education and training.

Information on the release of the Consultation Paper on the National Policy on Multicultural Mental Health. Also includes integration of refugees into the community from a GP’s perspectives and GP mental health related projects. Read more………

First edition of Synergy published under the logo of Multicultural Mental Health Australia.

Inside this issue:

• Psychosocial consequences for interpreters working with torture and trauma clients
• Addressing language issues in mental health in Queensland
• Development of guidelines for transalted MH information in WA
• Specialists advocacy services for people from CALDB with a disability

Inside this issue:

• One NESB size does not fit all!
• New arrival refugee women, health & well-being project
• Book review: promoting health in multicultural populations
• Tasmanian Transcultural Mental Health Network re-launched 

Inside this issue:

• Building Social Capital with a refugee community
• Utilisation of a specialist mental health services by refugees
• Families in cultural transition
• Listening to diverse voice: Studying depression among refugees

Focusing on mental health issues for culturally and linguistically diverse children and young people, this edition features articles on infant care in South Africa, how CALD young people use Kids Help Line and a model for the acces and engagement of young people from divers backgrounds.

Inside this issue:

• Gender, culture and mental health: a view from South Africa
• Trungs Story - 3rd Prize in NSW TMHC Young Writers' Competition 2000
• Evaluation of the ATMHN
• On having a mental illness in the family - care-giving in immigrant communities

Inside this issue:

• Getting in the way of effective mental health promotion, prevention & education
• Development of transcultural mental health education by VTPUA
• A better state of mental health for all
• Warning - caring is a health hazard
• ATMHN management unit update

Inside this issue:

• Travelling the world over eight evenings: a cross-cultural mental health training program for GPs
• Book review: deeper dimensions-culture, youth and mental health
• In their own words
• Report on ATMHN funded projects

A special edition focusing on proceedings of NSW TMHC Suicide Prevention Conference.

Inside this issue:

• Cultural competence in Victoria child & adolescent mental health services project report
• Dreams & realities from the perspective of Queensland CALD community
• ATMHN member organisations latest news