MIFSA provides a range of services for people with mental illness, carers and the community with a major focus on the individual’s recovery process.  MIFSA also works to increase community awareness of mental health issues and to reduce stigma.

Programs are based on psychosocial rehabilitation principles, with strong consumer involvement.  All MIFSA programs draw on the lived experience of consumers and carers.  Services provided include:

Information and resources

MIFSA has a library and information facility, resources for purchase and a bimonthly newsletter: MIFSA News.  Telephone and face-to-face support, information, advice, referrals, fact sheets and individually tailored information kits are widely accessed.

Library and information facility

The Library provides a valuable resource for members and the general community. A comprehensive range of topics related to mental illness are represented in the library through books, videos, DVD’s and audio books. Membership is required for items to be taken off premises. Audio-visual equipment is set up in the library and an Internet-ready computer for researching relevant information is also available.

Face-to-face and telephone information and support to the community

Many people make contact with MIFSA seeking support, advice, information or referral. Face-to-face and telephone information and support is offered to consumers, carers, family members, students, medical and psychiatric trainees, interested members of the public, and varied professional persons.  The contact often involves personal support, information about MIFSA services, referral to other organisations, tips on how best to cope with their situation and provision of an information kit tailored to their specific needs.  

Personal Helpers and Mentors Program

Peer Worker Program

The Peer Worker Program aims to develop an efficient and coordinated process for the recruitment, training, supervision and support of peer workers in South Australia.  Peer workers are people living well with a mental illness who have been trained to work in the public mental health service, non-government organisations or wider sector to provide support, guidance and programs to fellow consumers.

Education Programs

The education programs provided by MIFSA aim to increase awareness about mental illness in the community and are a major means of assisting consumers in their recovery process.  Programs have a broad target group including consumers, carers, health service providers and the community. Community Educators utilising their lived experience share their expertise and strategies for managing day-to-day life and offer a first hand account of living well with mental illness.  The following programs are provided:

Community Education – Metropolitan Area

MIFSA offers community based education services for Consumers, Carers and interested groups (eg nursing students, psychiatric registrars, health providers, corporate organisations, schools and community organisations).  Activities include workshops, presentations/ displays and seminars on topics such as schizophrenia, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, psychosis, relapse prevention and recovery. 

Community Education – Country Outreach Program

MIFSA provides education workshops and seminars in country areas throughout South Australia.  The program has also developed practical training materials, including a DVD, for use by people living in rural and remote South Australia.  Frequently one-to-one sessions are provided after the completion of education sessions.

Well Ways Carer Education Program

The Well Ways Carer Education Program is a family-to-family, peer-to-peer educational program designed to increase the capacity of families, carers and friends to care effectively for people with mental illness.  Well Ways is an evidence-based program with proven efficacy in improving outcomes both for carers and the person with a mental illness. Well Ways is based on best practice, current research, utilises participatory consultative processes and incorporates “lived experience” of individuals caring for people recovering from mental illness.  The Well Ways program consists of 8 three-hour weekly group sessions plus follow-up workshops over 12 months.  The program utilises trained carers as facilitators to provide information and resources about treatment, recovery, services and caring strategies.  It explores the emotional experience of families living with mental illness, the cause, treatment and recovery journey as well as outlining available legal and carer service systems. 

Psychosocial Groups Program

The Psychosocial Groups program is designed to develop, deliver and evaluate innovative group programs for people experiencing mental illness.  The Program offers time-limited, goal focussed, therapeutic groups which promote recovery and rehabilitation, relapse prevention, self-management and general health and well being.  The groups are small, facilitated by two staff members and focus on building strengths and supporting people to develop and/or maintain a key role in managing their own recovery.  Services are offered in local community centres, assisting individuals to forge links with their local community.

Activity Centres

Activity Centres, located at Keswick and Christies Beach (Panangga), aim to promote well-being in a supportive environment thereby assisting recovery and the prevention of relapse by offering opportunities for individuals’ to improve their ability to manage their mental illness. The Activity Centre program is based on a rehabilitation and recovery framework, with the aim of connecting participants with their local community, providing informal peer support and provision of group programs. Opportunities exist for individuals affected by mental illness to develop skills, increase social and recreational options and access support and information. The Activity Centres offer an environment to develop friendships, trust, increase skills, be accepted and connect with the community.  The Centres are accessed by members from across the Adelaide metropolitan area and are operated by both staff and volunteer members of MIFSA. In addition the Keswick Accredited Food Service provides lunches Tuesday to Saturday and dinners Tuesday and Thursday at minimal cost. Frozen meals are also available at Keswick while a lunch service is provided at Panangga.

Support Groups

MIFSA provides support groups for people with a mental illness, their carers, relatives and friends.  The support groups assist people to better understand and to cope with the medical, social and economic problems created by mental illness.  The groups have a strong educational and peer support component and are very important in assisting people through the recovery journey. 

Support groups exist to meet needs according to consumer, carer and specific diagnostic group needs.  Ongoing groups in 2007 are Support Works Consumer Group (mood disorders only), Mood Disorders Carers Group, Murray Bridge Consumer Group (all mental illness diagnostic groups), Marion Support Group, Tea Tree Gully Support Group and support groups in Whyalla for Consumers and Carers.

Support Works Consumer Group – 2 hours weekly, based on a 4 term program – 1st hour educational, 2nd hour sharing time. Available to consumers with a primary diagnosis of depression, bipolar disorder or schizoaffective disorder.

Mood Disorders Carers Group – 2 hours monthly including guest speakers. A retreat is held every year. Available to carers over the age of 18 who care for someone diagnosed with a mood disorder. Carers only group.

Marion Carers Support Group – 2 hours bi-monthly including guest speakers.

Accommodation Support

Accommodation support services are provided for a number of the tenants of the Roofs Housing Association.  The tenants have a mental illness and without support are at high risk of losing their community tenure, becoming homeless or requiring institutional care.  Support includes assistance with budgeting, developing food purchasing skills, housekeeping, laundry skills, social outings and recreational options.  

Housing Advice

The Port Adelaide Office of Housing SA provides an accommodation advisory service at the Mental Health Resource Centre.  The advisory service provides information and assistance in accessing the private rental market, advice on procedures to apply for public housing and advocates for both existing tenants and those in the private rental market.  The service is accessed by a broad group of people, particularly consumers, their relatives, carers and case managers. 

Sunflower Shops

Sunflower shops provide a significant source of fundraising revenue for MIFSA.  The metropolitan shops sell second hand goods and are operated by volunteers, many of whom are consumers or carers.

Membership

MIFSA has over 1,300 members, more than 70% of which are consumers or carers.  To become a member contact MIFSA on 8221 5160 or fill out a registration form online.  Membership rates are as follows:

Single                             $20

Pensioner / Student          $10

Family                            $30

Pensioner Family              $18