[Program for promoting social attachment among Poles in Australia in relation to their mental status].
Among the Polish community in Sydney in 1989 there was a significantly higher percentage of men than women. Compared to the Australian population, there was also a high percentage of single people (especially men), a high rate of childlessness and a majority of incomplete families. The data on admission to psychiatric institutions in New South Wales indicate, that Polish-born persons (males) hospitalized with psychiatric disorders were 2.5 times more than the population of Australian-born. Sociologists pointed that because of lesser contacts with other members of their ethnic groups, people find themselves isolated. There were also limited family members or relatives who could provide support. From the South Western Sydney Area Health Service initiative a 2-year programme "Gazeta seniora". The strategic goal was to reduce number of isolated Polish-born older people through a number of regular initiatives: newspaper supplement, radio programmes, meeting groups, phone line. According to the information obtained from health and social services and from the respondents survey, letters and interviews, there was an increased access to medical services (15 percent), number of ethic meeting groups (40 percent). The programme has encouraged community leaders to provide personal contact and support for isolated people. After two years there were twice as many programme participants "satisfied with life" mainly because of "other peoples and the community's" involvement (from 7.0 to 21.4 percent). In the discussion part the authors stressed a holistic and long-term aspect of social and environmental support of any community based health promotion intervention related to psychic health improvement.
Kulmatycki
Lesław
L
Katedra Podstaw Humanistycznych, Zakład Psychologii, Akademia Wychowania Fizycznego we Wrocławiu.
Lazowski
Jan
J
D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004641:Emigration and Immigration; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008603:Mental Health; D017146:Models, Organizational; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D011044:Poland / Q000208:ethnology; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012917:Social Adjustment; D012934:Social Isolation; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological