ACQ_Vol_11_no_3_2009

Mental health

I sat down to start writing this column – late again, and, feeling uninspired, procrastinated by deciding to complete a (necessary) task for my day job. Some 90 minutes (not five, which is all it should have taken) later I have achieved that task, but at some expense to my mental health. Perhaps I should have written the column first – procrastination seldom reaps rewards! Mental health is certainly an issue of which we should all be aware. In particular, we need to be aware of the role that language and communication play in mental health. The links between behaviour disorders and communication impairment are clearly established, and addressed in a number of papers in this issue. The personal experiences of clinicians working in this area promise to be fascinating. Is awareness enough though? As we strive to increase the influence of the profession, perhaps we need to include mental health as one of the areas in which we advocate for the needs of our clients. It is fitting that the Association is embarking on a review of the position paper Speech pathology in child and adolescent mental health . Once completed, this will provide members with information which may be used in advocacy. We also need to be aware of our own mental health. This necessity was raised at the forum on the Association Code of Ethics, held at the 2009 National Conference in Adelaide. As professionals working in a caring profession, From the president Musing on mental health Cori Williams

striving to deliver excellent, ethical, evidence based services to our clients, to advocate for the rights of people with communication and swallowing disorders, and to meet the demands of employers, it may be that our own mental health and wellbeing are challenged from time to time. It is easy to take on more and more, often at some cost to ourselves. Is it ethical to focus on our aspirations for working with others, and to neglect our own wellbeing? Will neglecting our own well-being ultimately impact on the delivery of excellent services to our clients? The organisation Managing Work Life Balance International (http://www.worklifebalance.com. au/) sees work–life balance as a “bottom-line business issue” which, when achieved, has potential benefits in terms of employee satisfaction, retention and productivity. Perhaps it is also a bottom-line professional issue which impacts on satisfaction, retention and productivity in our professional lives. The issues of responsibility to ourselves will be considered in the review of the Code of Ethics – but we may all need to consider them from a personal viewpoint. Work–life balance is dynamic, not static. We may find that getting the balance right can help us to achieve at higher levels. Finding the balance is the challenge. Hilary Clinton said, “Our lives are a mixture of different roles. Most of us are doing the best we can to find whatever the right balance is … For me, that balance is family, work, and service”. What is the right balance for you?

Cori Williams

Mentoring Program Share and Develop Skills –

Surprise Yourself with New Insights Looking to maximise your learning and build on professional and personal capacities in 2009? – then Speech Pathology Australia’s Mentoring Program is just the thing for you. Providing an opportunity for reflective practice, development of new skills and increased knowledge and networks for both mentees and mentors. Anyone with two or more years experience in their work role can register as a mentor – you do not need to be an expert! With many new graduates now registering for the program, mentors are in high demand. We’d love to hear from mentors to match with these keen members. On the other hand, if you are a new graduate recently employed, changing your field of practice, new to an area, embarking on a research project, new to management or isolated in a sole position, why not register as a mentee to gain some extra support. The Association is please announce it now has a new brochure about the Mentoring Program. This brochure is now available via the Association website or by contacting the Association directly. For more detailed information and registration forms please check out the Mentoring Program information on the website. www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

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ACQ Volume 11, Number 3 2009

ACQ uiring knowledge in speech, language and hearing