Peer Group Chat // Cultural Complexities // Thursday 3rd October 2024 7-8:30PM AEST

[tyme]

On Thursday 3rd October 2024, we will be holding a Peer Group Chat on the topic of Cultural Complexities.

The cultural identity we embrace can play a big role in how we view our mental health experiences, seek help and feel supported. Our cultural identities can be a source of strength, and yet create challenges at times. With such diverse members in our communities, sharing our experiences and feelings is super important, so let’s gather to talk about these cultural complexities!

The event start times across Australia are below:

This is currently held in Australian Eastern Standard hours:

WA: 5pm

NT: 6:30pm

SA: 6:30pm 

QLD: 7pm

NSW, ACT, VIC & TAS: 7pm 

For anyone unfamiliar with Peer Group Chats, each focuses on a specific topic and is guided by Peer Workers with lived experience of mental health issues and recovery, &/or caring for someone with complex mental health. It is a space for us as peers to share our stories and experiences, and connect with those who are going through something similar. 

Peer Group Chats are hosted outside of the forums, using a platform called Chatwee. To join an Online Peer Group Chat, you will need to register for an account with Chatwee. On the night, follow this link and log in to your Chatwee account before the group starts.

Please see this FAQ for any questions you may have. For any issues on the night, please message the moderator of the group on the Chat platform. If you'd like to receive a reminder closer to the event, please support this post & we'll keep you updated.

@Jacques @creative_writer @Squishy @Macqua @Ainjoule @7cough9 @Shaz51 @Glisten @Alonely @Patches59 @Oaktree @WildFlower1 @Healandlove @ENKELI @Who-Knows @cam @Captain24 @MJG017 @MessyGirl @LovelyBones88 @balance37 @GreyWolf7 

Tagging new members also:

@QuinnSexton @Burty007 @Remorseful @daisy1234 @WeasleyGirl @Elizabeth15 @Star-light @MissPeace @Baddog @Plane_9 

[Healandlove]

@tyme thank you! I hope to join tomorrow. 

[tyme]

We'd love to have you @Healandlove . Looking forward to it.

[Captain24]

I’ll be on my way home from work

[MJG017]

@tyme  1st Thursday of the month is my men's group.  Have a great chat everyone.

[ArraDreaming]

Sounds really good i want to participate but not sure the timing will work for me tonight

[tyme]

Hi Everyone!

For those who can make it, we will be having our Peer Group Chat shortly at 7pm AEST. The topic is: Cultural Complexities

Peer Group Chats are hosted outside of the forums, using a platform called Chatwee. To join an Online Peer Group Chat, you will need to register for an account with Chatwee. On the night, follow this link and log in to your Chatwee account before the group starts.

Please see this FAQ for any questions you may have. For any issues on the night, please message the moderator of the group on the Chat platform. If you'd like to receive a reminder closer to the event, please support this post & we'll keep you updated.

@Spirit_Healer @Jacques @Little_Leopard @creative_writer @Squishy @Macqua @Ainjoule @7cough9 @Shaz51 @Glisten @Alonely @Patches59 @Oaktree @WildFlower1 @Healandlove @ENKELI @Who-Knows @cam @MessyGirl @LovelyBones88 @balance37 @GreyWolf7 

Tagging new members also and those online:

@QuinnSexton @Burty007 @Remorseful @daisy1234 @WeasleyGirl @Elizabeth15 @Star-light @MissPeace @Baddog @Plane_9 @Cleo2 @Louie333 @enily @magnolia84 @Ghostcaspa1 @Former-Member @Zissa @TjilpiLee @micselafey @Jess1284 @peachess @DrolfosNoisulli @Mel13itch @emily_6363726 

[Patches59]

Sounds good. Not sure if will make it through all PGC, still feeling effects of anaesthesic and disturb sleep last night

[tyme]

Hey @Patches59 ,

I'm sorry to hear you are still feeling the side effects of anaesthesia. Totally understandable if you are not able to join for the whole chat.

We'd love to have you for whatever time you can join.

[tyme]

Thank you everyone for the chat tonight. What a powerful chat as we learn to advocate for ourselves and be comfortable with who we are.

Here are tonight's questions as well as the resources:

Q1: Everyone has a culture that they are a part of, whether you’re born into it or not (i.e. religious communities, ethnic groups, LGBTQIA+ community, sports clubs, etc).   What does culture mean to you? What cultural groups do you identify with?    Culture is often defined as “the shared values, beliefs, norms, customs, practices, and social behaviours of a particular group or society.”

Q2: Living in a multicultural country, there’s a range of cultures and social expectations that we often feel we need to live up to. How do you feel about your cultural identity at the moment?

Q3: What cultural stigmas have impacted your mental health and help-seeking?

Q4: What can family, friends, the community and professional supports do to help you overcome these cultural stigmas?

Q5: What are some strengths from within your culture that empower you?  How do you celebrate your cultural identity? Or celebrate YOU, being YOU?

Q6: What are some things we can do to affirm our cultural identity while supporting our mental health?

Q7: What book, artwork, film/tv show, song/album, quote, person, place or object has helped you feel proud of your culture?

Here are some further resources we recommend having a look at:  1 SANE Mental Health Support for Multicultural People: https://www.sane.org/information-and-resources/facts-and-guides/mental-health-support-for-multicultu...  2 Cultural Identity and mental health & wellbeing: https://headspace.org.au/explore-topics/for-young-people/cultural-identity-mental-health/  3 Cultural Diversity and Mental Health: https://beyou.edu.au/fact-sheets/relationships/cultural-diversity-and-mental-health

Some key quotes from tonight are:

"It is no measure of health to be well-adjusted to a profoundly sick society".

"We're not all in the same boat, but we are all in the same storm"

"We all bleed the same colour"

@Yep recommended https://www.ted.com/talks/taiye_selasi_don_t_ask_where_i_m_from_ask_where_i_m_a_local?subtitle=en

@Patches59 @MJG017 @Captain24 @Healandlove @ArraDreaming @cam @enily @sam @Juniper @Squishy @Andarna @GreyWolf7 @Cleo2 @Shaz51 @Patches59 @Jacques @Oaktree @MarchHawk