I have been thinking about why writing today here in this weekly message about my decision to leave Mental Health Australia has been extra hard. 

It’s because this weekly message has become such an important connection between us. More than 5000 people receive this each week and I can’t tell you how many people link personally back to me in writing or when we meet at conferences or forums. It’s because the link back to what is happening in the sector is provided. It is because it has created a unifying experience and it’s because people see their stories and voices reflected. And it has been personal.

It surprises me each time someone recognises me or knows my name before we have been introduced. “I know you - you write to me each Friday in the CEO Update!"

And it feels like we are friends.

So here I am letting you know that at the end of November I will finish up and head to a new role (which will be announced next week). 

Our years together have been amazing for me and whilst I am not going for a few weeks I would like to say now - a big thank you. 

What a wonderful experience it has been to lead this organisation with such a brilliant Board and capable, passionate and committed team. 

Like me, they would want to acknowledge the work you all do that builds our sector, the journeys you are all on, and the wisdom we have developed in our shared work together. 

Mental Health Australia is a national peak body that has a strong, confident and respected leadership voice in the national landscape. 

This has been built over many years and it will only get stronger going forward. 

This week alone has been remarkably successful with huge reach for our World Mental Health Day campaign, the launch and release of our first “Report to the Nation” and
Episode 2 of “Walk The Talk”. 

And I will sign up to the Weekly CEO Update when I finish so that I can keep in touch with the developments and incremental reform that we have been advocating for together!

It has indeed been a privilege.

Fantastic full time career opportunity for a senior candidate that has experience in the Not For Profit sector. The role will suit someone with existing community program development skills along with strategic, relationship management and presentation experience.

Reporting to the CEO, the role requires someone who is successful at creating and strengthening community relations with groups that align with R U OK? strategic priorities. There will be a focus on regional and rural Australia.

R U OK? is a harm prevention charity dedicated to creating a world where we are all connected and protected from suicide. We’re a small dynamic team and welcome a person who is a passionate team player, has initiative, is prepared to travel domestically and loves their work as much as we do. A hybrid working arrangement is on offer with two/three days per week based in our Millers Point office. The candidate will ideally be Sydney based however we welcome interstate interest.

To learn more about the role and how to apply please click on the link below

Minister for Health and Aged Care, Mark Butler, and Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Emma McBride, says World Mental Health Day is a day for global mental health education, awareness, and advocacy. Right now, demand for mental health support has surged to record levels across the country, with the pandemic having a significant impact on all Australians. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics' National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing 2020-21, more than two in five Australians will experience a mental health issue at some point in their life. More than one in five people also experienced a mental health disorder in the previous year, with anxiety being the most common issue.

With more than two in five Australians over age 16 struggling with mental health at some time in their life, the Australian Medical Association is encouraging people to seek help this World Mental Health Day rather than "pushing through". AMA president Professor Steve Robson said prevention is key in reducing mental illness and this starts with people focusing on and prioritising their own mental health.

The Minister for Education, Children and Youth, Roger Jaensch, says the Tasmanian Liberal Government’s number one priority is to protect the health, safety and wellbeing of our most vulnerable children and young people. The Government has committed $2.6 million to establish programs for young people with complex needs, as well as providing therapeutic supports required for families and carers to maintain placement stability. The release of the Request for Proposals to deliver a Wellbeing, Care and Recovery Placement Program (WCRPP) further implements the recommendations from the Expert Panel for an improved system response for Tasmanian children and young people with highly complex needs.

An additional $1 million will be provided to Queensland's sexual assault services to support them to respond to additional demand anticipated from victim-survivors impacted by the Commission of Inquiry into DNA testing at Queensland's Forensic and Scientific Services. In response to the interim report, Report concerning use by Queensland health forensic and scientific services of certain evidentiary statements, a full audit of the identified samples relating to major crime will be undertaken. "We recognise that this is a difficult time for victim-survivors and some may need support to manage the impact of revisiting this trauma", Attorney-General, and Minster for Violence Prevention Shannon Fentiman said.

Cost of living pressures have overtaken COVID-19 as the main concern for people, according to a new Beyond Blue community sentiment survey released on World Mental Health Day. Beyond Blue surveyed 1500 people nationally to identify stressors impacting people’s mental health and wellbeing, with the findings revealing increasing interest rates, high inflation, worries about the cost of living, war in Ukraine and what the future may hold as the main causes of concern. The survey revealed a general sense of unease, with people operating at a lower level than pre-pandemic days and adults weighed down by work challenges and cost-of-living rises. The findings are consistent with current conversation themes on Beyond Blue’s popular and trusted online peer support forums.

Deputy Prime Minister, Richard Marles, said World Mental Health Day is a day to reflect on our mental health and wellbeing and a timely reminder to ask our Defence workforce to check in with colleagues, friends and family. The Albanese Government is committed to cultural change in Defence and raising awareness and acceptance of mental health issues amongst personnel. The importance of early identification of mental health concerns, no matter the cause, and providing access to the right support, treatment and rehabilitation should not be underestimated.

Minister for Women's Safety and the Prevention of Domestic and Sexual Violence Natalie Ward said the program would help local domestic and family violence committees raise awareness about domestic and family violence issues in their communities. "Local Domestic and Family Violence Committees play an important role in supporting victim-survivors and raising awareness about the impact of domestic and sexual violence, as well as the local services available to victim-survivors," Mrs Ward said. "Under this program, committees are able to apply for grants of up to $1,800 to fund a range of important initiatives aimed at raising awareness about domestic and family violence, reinforcing messages about positive behaviour, and engaging local community groups."

Mental health is a serious issue world-wide. 1 in every 8 people in the world live with a mental disorder. But misconceptions and negative stereotypes complicate and amplify the stigma, discrimination, and isolation experienced by people living with a mental health illness.

PIECES aims to demystify mental illness and generate a discussion about an issue that impacts on so many of our lives. And that’s why the film also very deliberately highlights the positive impact of carers. A group too often unheralded for their unwavering support of those living with mental illness.

Is there a secret formula to happiness? We all struggle sometimes, but what does it mean when we struggle? We all experience strong emotions, but what should we do about them? We all want to be happy - but what is happiness and why is it so elusive?

Positive psychotherapist Marie McLeod takes 7 people on a transformative journey to learn the secret formula to happiness. The film’s premise is; if we offer the science of happiness to people experiencing struggle; what difference would it make? Is happiness a learnable skill and can we teach people skills to live a happy, healthy and meaningful life?

With unprecedented access; the result is an intimate, heartfelt and hopeful film that offers a rare glimpse into the lives of 7 people who make incredible transforms as a result of learning ‘How to Thrive?

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission) is seeking feedback on the Accreditation scheme for the National Safety and Quality Mental Health (NSQMH) Standards for Community Managed Organisations (CMOs).

The Commission has released a discussion paper to provide information to support stakeholders to participate in this consultation, please find the document attached. This discussion paper provides information on the operation of the Australian Health Services Safety and Quality Accreditation Scheme and seeks stakeholders’ views on the accreditation methodology that best suits the CMO sector, within the bounds of that scheme.

The NSQMH Standards for CMOs will be released in November 2022. The NSQMH Standards for CMOs describe a nationally consistent safety and quality framework that all community managed organisations providing mental health services can apply when delivering mental health care. Where implemented, consumers and carers should be able to be confident they are accessing a mental health service that is safe and of high-quality.

CMOs implementing the NSQMH Standards for CMOs will develop their own practice governance frameworks. How this looks will depend on the mental health service’s size, as well as risks and complexities associated with the services it delivers. Implementation requires a whole-of-service approach.

We invite you to provide your feedback via a written submission or participation in a focus group. Please visit the website - https://www.eventbrite.com.au/o/australian-commission-on-safety-and-quality-in-health-care-32829455729 to register to attend an information webinar of focus group. 

The consultation period is open now until 11.59pm (AEDT) Friday 9 December 2022.

If you have any questions about the accreditation scheme discussion paper or the consultation process, please contact the mental health team at: mentalhealth@safetyandquality.gov.au

Held exclusively online from 14-18 November 2022, PACFA’s Safety Through Diversity Conference will be a ‘collaborative festival of ideas,’ discussing the most important counselling, psychotherapy and Indigenous Healing Practices themes of our time.

On each of the 5 days, a stellar line-up of speakers/ ‘key collaborators’ will spark conversations with attendees around themes of the day:

Day 1, 14 November – Indigenous Healing Practices

Day 2, 15 November – Diversity in Gender, Body, Kinship and Sexuality

Day 3, 16 November – Psychotherapy, Counselling and the Politics of Mental Health

Day 4, 17 November – Research and the future of the profession

Day 5, 18 November – Wrap up – Bringing it all together towards the future

Practising counsellors, psychotherapists and Indigenous Healing Practitioners can accrue up to 6.5 Category A CPD hours per day.

Registration opens 19 October. Visit bit.ly/PACFACONF22 for more information and to sign up for updates.

Nearly 1 billion people live with a mental health condition. But mental health remains one of the most neglected aspects of healthcare. Some countries have only two mental health workers for every 100 000 people. The social and economic repercussions are profound.
Anxiety and depression alone cost the global economy an estimated $1 trillion per year.

We must strengthen the capacity of health services to offer quality care to those in need, in
particular young people. This includes community-based services and integrating support for mental health into broader health and social care. Investing in mental wellbeing means investing in healthy and prosperous communities.

We must also address stigma and discrimination – and break down the barriers that prevent
people from seeking care and support. And we must prevent the root causes of mental health conditions, including violence and abuse.

The United Nations is commited to working with partners to promote mental wellbeing.
WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY 2022 - Make Mental Health & Wellbeing for All a Global Priority. 3

As we mark World Mental Health Day, let us make it a global priority and act urgently so that
everyone, everywhere has access to quality mental health care.

Suicide Prevention Australia’s National Suicide Prevention Conference 2023 will be held over 1 – 4 May in Canberra. This event provides a gateway to unite suicide prevention experts to showcase evidence-based solutions and robust discussion, focused on solutions for saving lives.

Black Dog Institute is pleased to announce its Summit on Self-Harm to be held on
Thursday, 10 November 2022 at Doltone House in Sydney.

This full-day event will bring together leading international researchers, clinicians and lived experience experts to provide and share insights about self-harm.

The Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care (the Department) is developing the National Health Literacy Strategy (NHLS), which will aim to improve the health literacy environment in Australia as well as individuals’ self-care capabilities. The objective of the NHLS is to provide an evidence-based health literacy environment, where health information is person-centred, accessible and culturally and linguistically appropriate, and to improve health literacy skills of all Australians. The NHLS was announced as one of the early priorities in 2021-22 under the National Preventive Health Strategy 2021-2030.

To facilitate consultation, the Department has published a Consultation Paper which includes a draft NHLS Framework. This Framework has been developed based on feedback gathered through targeted consultations with a diverse range of stakeholders and consumers, and based on reviews of national and international evidence. The feedback received from this consultation will then be used to inform a draft NHLS, which will subsequently be released for consultation in early 2023.

The Consultation Paper is now live on the Department’s Consultation Hub. We ask that you please review and respond to questions on the Consultation Hub to provide feedback on the Framework, including the aims, vision and principles.

The paper will be available online for comment for a four-week period and will close on 09 November 2022 at 11:59pm.