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15 Feb 2024... Information about fatherhood for migrant and refugee men.  ‘Men's Mental Health’ has been developed with men from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Men with a variety of migration and life experiences can use these resources to find information and reflect on their mental health, their relationships, and their life goals.  This page discusses the importance of mental well-being for men, emphasising that mental health affects thoughts, actions, and relationships. 

15 Feb 2024... Information about fatherhood for migrant and refugee fathers. Teaching your child about your own culture, language, and religion is essential to sharing the world with your child. Discuss this with your partner from the beginning, especially if you come from a different cultural background than   your partner.   Demonstrate the importance of diversity to your child by learn ing about different cultures, religions and languages. To feel accepted and be a genuine member of a diverse society, each member must be able to accept others from all religions, ethnic and cultural backgrounds. Learning these values will make your child feel confident about their identity and being a true part of multicultural Australia.  

15 Feb 2024... Information about fatherhood for migrant and refugee fathers about being a positive role model for your child. Children learn from what they see you do. Behave in ways you want your child to behave. When you overcome challenges, solve problems and handle conflicts in positive ways, you are modelling positive behaviour and making them feel safe and secure in taking the same actions in future. 

15 Feb 2024... Information for refugee and migrant men about mental health. It is normal to feel sad, frustrated, stressed or anxious sometimes. These are normal responses to situations we come across in our daily life. However, there are signs which may indicate that you are struggling and in need of some support, and they should not be ignored. If you are experiencing one or more of the following signs you should seek help: symptoms of mood and behavioural changes are constant, or you experience them most of the time symptoms last for two weeks or more symptoms are affecting your daily life, those around you, your work or study.

15 Feb 2024... Information for migrant and refugee men on fatherhood.  Waiting for your baby to be born is an important time for preparation. In addition to organising all the things your baby will need, part of preparing should include taking some time to think about and decide on what kind of father you want to be.

15 Feb 2024... Information for refugees and migrant men about parenting and the impact on your relationship.  If you come from a background where women are expected to be entirely responsible for caring for children, you may find the idea of ‘sharing parenting’ challenging. Gender roles may differ greatly from what you’ve been used to. Make an effort to make changes that will support your partner such as learning to do a few chores at home, learning to cook a few dishes and looking after your child and sharing responsibilities. Discuss the role you each want to have, common goals and how you plan to achieve them. This may include planning how you will pass on traditions, morals, language and values from your background. Clarify what these are for both of you, as a couple.        

15 Feb 2024... Information for refugees and migrant men about family violence. Family violence refers to a pattern of ongoing abusive and controlling behaviours that take many different forms. It happens within intimate relationships as well as between family members. Family violence can affect anyone, regardless of sex, age, race, sexuality, disability, gender identity or lifestyle. However, violent behaviour is most frequently used by men, as a way to exercise power and control over women and children.        

15 Feb 2024... Information about mental health for migrant and refugee fathers. Feeling sad after childbirth is a reaction to hormonal changes that happen before, during and after the birth of the baby. This is commonly known as ‘baby blues’ or `postpartum blues’ which usually affects mothers, but statistics have shown that 25% of fathers experience it as well. It is a temporary and short-lived mental health disorder causing mood swings and bouts of sadness.18  Several helplines are available to support you and your partner following childbirth.

15 Feb 2024... Information for refugee and migrant men.  Migrating to and settling in a new country can present challenges, including: learning a new language adapting to a different culture learning key services like public transport, education and healthcare finding a job or seeking financial support connecting with friends, family and community. Uncertainty on your migration status brings its own risk of developing a mental illness. Isolation, waiting for a visa application to be processed, going to interviews, and uncertainty regarding the outcome of your application can be very stressful for people in this situation and those around them. Some people become consumed by their thoughts on what the future holds for them.

15 Feb 2024... Information for refugee and migrant men about mental health. Different cultures and religions have different views on mental health. Some cultures have certain traditions or rituals to treat mental health problems, while others see mental illness as a spiritual issue. In Australia, mental health is referred to as the state of wellbeing and it affects the way you think and act, and how you handle work and social relationships. We all have different thoughts, ideas and feelings that are unique to us, and every person experiences mental health problems or mental illness differently

15 Feb 2024... Information for refugee and migrant men about some tips that can help you manage your stresses and improve your mental. Since the COVID-19 pandemic started in 2020, our lives have been affected in different ways by the virus and public health measures. Self-isolation and quarantine, uncertainty about what the future holds, job losses, and being away from family and friends have had a big impact on our lives and particularly on our mental health. Psychological distress due to COVID-19 may lead to you feeling upset, worried, scared, or anxious but there are a few steps that you can follow to manage this.  

15 Feb 2024... Information for refugee and migrant men about mental health. Mental illness affects how someone feels, thinks, behaves, and interacts with other people. Not every mental health problem is a mental illness. Mental illnesses can affect anyone at any time. It does not reflect anything bad or shameful about the person experiencing the illness. Different types of mental illnesses can range from manageable to very serious. People who have the same mental illness are affected differently and each person experiences a variation in the intensity of the illness. There are a range of symptoms that can go from mild to severe and can be experienced short-term or long-term. Remember that conditions can be episodic, which means that people go through phases where they feel good and other times when they’re not at their best. If you experience a mental illness, you must seek help from a doctor or another health professional such as a psychologist or counsellor.

15 Feb 2024... Information about fatherhood for migrant and refugee men.  During the first few months following the birth of your child, you and your partner will be fully occupied trying to adjust to new changes in your lives. You must take care of your mental health during your partner’s pregnancy and in early parenthood. For some couples, stepping into parenthood brings about many emotions that range from love and happiness to frustration. Some fathers may feel that once they become a parent they’re trapped and have lost their old life and self. But along with that may come the feeling of guilt, where dads think they might not be doing a good job.

15 Feb 2024... Information about youth mental health for migrant and refugee fathers.  As a father, it is important to be aware that youth and early adulthood is a difficult time for most. The body changes, relationships with family and friends change, and young people need to make decisions such as what career or education pathways they wish to pursue. Hormonal changes experienced through youth and early adulthood can affect a person’s mental health, as changes to chemicals in the brain can affect emotions, thoughts and behaviours.

15 Feb 2024... Information for refugees and migrant men about healthy relationships.  In general, good relationships are built on: trust, respect and equality (equal rights, opportunities and responsibilities) honesty care and emotional support mutual decision-making and shared responsibility resolving conflict (through communication) good and open communication, and intimacy. A healthy relationship will be one where both parties are on an equal level, communicating their individual and shared interests, values and vision for the relationship or family and making decisions together.        

15 Feb 2024... Information for refugee and migrant men about mental health. If you think your partner may be experiencing depression, how can you help? Around 15% of women develop postnatal depression after the birth of their babies. If your partner demonstrates significant changes to her emotions, thinking or behaviour, this may be a sign that something is not going well for her. Some of the changes you may see in your partner are: crying or feeling sad very often being in a low mood or very irritable a lot of the time thinking “I can’t do this” fearing being alone or going out thinking about hurting herself or the baby your partner finds it difficult to be affectionate with you, the baby, or others. A critical part of helping someone is being aware of the signs and symptoms of a mental illness.

15 Feb 2024... Information for refugee and migrant men about mental health. Sometimes you may think that you can’t cope anymore. However, you need to remind yourself to remain positive and believe that things will get better. Some strategies can help you manage feelings of depression and anxiety.

15 Feb 2024... Information for refugee and migrant men about mental health. If your general practitioner (GP) refers you to a mental health specialist, this can be subsidised under Medicare. Your GP will first ask some questions about your health history, symptoms and situation. Your GP will assess your condition and advise on the type of help you need. This can include: making a mental health assessment creating a mental health treatment plan referring you to a psychiatrist or other mental health professional prescribing medication, if required. Your GP can refer you to a psychologist for 10 individual sessions and 10 group sessions under your mental health care plan in a year. After the sixth session, you will return to your GP, for a review of your progress and a new referral for the remaining sessions.

15 Feb 2024... Information about services for migrant and refugee men, including: Family and parenting Childcare, parental and work Counselling and relationships Health and mental health Financial Police and legal Settlement services Services for asylum seekers Youth services