CEO Update: Guest blog from WHO, launch of Equally Well, latest news and reminders from the sector

Speaking frankly...

Mental Health Australia CEO Frank Quinlan is currently on leave and has invited colleagues to provide a guest blog each week. These blogs are the views of each guest blogger and not the opinions of Mental Health Australia.

This week’s guest blog comes from Dr Michelle Funk, Coordinator, Mental Health Policy and Service Development at the World Health Organization.

World Health Organization QualityRights initiative
to transform services and promote rights

Around the world, there is increasing awareness of the importance of providing mental health services and supports but also growing discontent about what is actually being provided. With never-ending examples of how services have failed the individuals they are designed to serve, countries are under mounting pressure to scrutinise the types of services provided, how they are delivered, as well as how they are perceived and received by people who use them.

Change is being advocated for and driven forward by different stakeholders including individuals with lived experience, organizations of persons with disabilities, mental health professionals, NGOs such as Mental Health Australia, and in some contexts, entire countries who are pushing forward on mental health reforms. This movement brings with it the diverse perspectives, expertise and experience needed to address the challenges that services are currently facing.

When focusing on the huge amount of work to be done and the difficult nature of this work, it is easy to become overwhelmed and discouraged by the task at hand. However it is important not to lose sight of the many good examples of mental health services that exist; services that promote people’s rights, that listen to people’s stories, respect their choices and needs, and ultimately support them in their personal journey of recovery. Such examples remind us that change is possible.

In recent years, the World Health Organization, through its QualityRights initiative, has been working to transform mental health and social care services and promote the rights of people with psychosocial, intellectual and cognitive disabilities, in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and other human rights standards. Key standards and tools have been published including the WHO QualityRights assessment toolkit as well as a set of 15 guidance and training materials on mental health, human rights and recovery. The guidance material promotes strategies to end involuntary admission, involuntary treatment, seclusion and restraint, and other coercive practices, as well as measures and practices, in line with the CRPD, that support legal capacity, informed consent, community inclusion and the right to liberty and security of person.

Through the implementation of these standards and tools, and with the engagement and collaboration of diverse stakeholders, WHO is translating the vision of human rights and recovery-oriented mental health services into a reality. We encourage everyone involved in the mental health sector, in Australia and other countries, to access, make use of and promote these new tools in order to build on this momentum for change.

Dr Michelle Funk
Coordinator, Mental Health Policy and Service Development (MHP)
Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse,
World Health Organization

Twitter @MichelleFunk3

WHO QualityRights: New Training and guidance modules published to support countries to create services and supports that promote recovery, empowerment and human rights for people with psychosocial disabilities http://www.who.int/mental_health/policy/quality_rights/en/index.html

WHO MiNDbank: A database providing national and international resources for developing human-rights oriented policies, laws, strategies, and service standards for mental health, substance abuse, disability, general health and development www.who.int/mental_health/mindbank

Prof Allan Fels launches Equally Well National Consensus Statement

Mental Health Australia representatives including Director of Policy and Projects Josh Fear were pleased to attend the National Press Club Address by Chair of the National Mental Health Commission Prof. Allan Fels this week to launch Equally Well National Consensus Statement, an initiative to improve the physical health and wellbeing of people living with mental illness in Australia.

Mental Health Australia is one of more than 50 organisations who have been involved in developing the Equally Well initiative and will now be involved through participation on the implementation committee.

To find out more or to read the full statement go to www.equallywell.org.au

Next Week

On Monday, Josh Fear will participate in the FSC Mental Health Roundtable Broader Strategy Working Group meeting.

On Tuesday, Josh Fear will participate in the Equally Well Implementation Committee Inaugural Meeting.

And on Friday, Mental Health Australia CEO Frank Quinlan, along with Josh Fear and Emma Coughlin from our Policy Team will be attending the first day of the Garma Festival.

Meet a Mental Health Australia Member

A brand new ReachOut.com: A one-stop-shop to help young people connect to support when they need it most

ReachOut Australia, the digital mental health service for young Australians and their parents, has launched a brand new platform this week providing a one-stop-shop for young people to connect to personalised support when they need it most.

ReachOut Australia CEO Jono Nicholas was joined by Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt and Telstra CEO Andrew Penn to unveil the mobile-first platform, which was co-designed with 174 young people.

The New platform aims to ensure a million more young people in Australia access mental health services. Instant access will mean no young person has to wait for support when they need it most.

Web - https://au.reachout.com/
Social - Facebook • Twitter • Instagram

Become a Member of Mental Health Australia

As the peak body for the mental health sector in Australia, Mental Health Australia is uniquely placed to influence the national debate on mental health issues and achieve our vision of mentally healthy people and communities. Representing more than 100 organisations in the mental health sector, find out more about Membership at the link below.

Parliamentary News

Good mental health critical to business success

Small business operators have been urged to take as much care of their mental health and wellbeing as they do of cashflow and serving customers. The Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman has published online resources and links to raise awareness of wellbeing issues and warning signs. Ombudsman Kate Carnell said high levels of stress and long working hours left small business people vulnerable to fatigue, anxiety and depression. It can be tough starting and growing a small business.

Nominations closing for Disability Awards

Nominations will close soon for the 2017 National Disability Awards, which recognise the tireless work of people to improve the lives of 4.3 million Australians with disability. The Hon. Jane Prentice MP, Assistant Minister for Social Services and Disability Services, has urged the community to nominate for the Awards before they close on 6 August 2017.

Call for equality in health care for people with mental illness

The National Mental Health Commission is calling for equality in health care for people who live with a serious mental illness, as they do not currently receive the same level of care as others. The Commission's Chair Allan Fels launched its Equally Well National Consensus Statement on Tuesday, and said people with a mental illness live between 14-23 years less than the general population. "We've launched Equally Well to inspire a commitment to putting health care for people living with mental illness on an equal footing with people with physical problems," Professor Fels said.

More youth mental health support

Minister for Health, Greg Hunt, says young people seeking help to deal with the pressures of life will benefit from a $500,000 Turnbull Government investment in better online mental health support. "ReachOut - the online mental health organisation for young people - has today unveiled a new digital platform that significantly expands its ability to help young people and their parents. The Australian Government contributed over $500,000 to the development of the new platform, dubbed ReachOut Next Generation. This is in addition to $3.9 million of federal funding which will support ReachOut’s mental health and suicide prevention activities over the next two years."

Reminders

R U OK? to launch the Conversation Convoy in the heart of Australia on
1 August

R U OK? is launching the Conversation Convoy, a six week journey around Australia which kicks off at Uluru, aiming to raise awareness of support services across the country, while encouraging people to start more meaningful conversations. The tour begins on 1 August and will cover 14,000kms visiting over 20 communities in regional, remote and metropolitan locations, finishing in Cairns on R U OK? Day, 14 September.

The Conversation Convoy will build on the question R U OK? by reinforcing the 4 Steps to a conversation, empowering Australians to ask, listen, encourage action and check in. The initiative comes off the back of a recent national omnibus survey which revealed one in three people don’t feel comfortable asking the question, “are you okay?”.

Early bird registrations closing 16 August for FECCA 2017 National Biennial Conference - Celebrate. Reflect. Advance: Our Multicultural Australia

The conference will be held in Darwin, NT, on 8-10 October 2017, and will bring together an array of community leaders, advocates, stakeholders and service providers along with culturally and linguistically diverse Australians from across the country. It will be a vibrant discussion of issues relevant for contemporary multicultural Australia.

Jeff Cheverton Memorial Scholarship 2018

The Jeff Cheverton Memorial Scholarship has been established by the Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association together with Brisbane North Primary Health Network and North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network to honour the memory of Jeff Cheverton, who demonstrated excellence in health leadership until his untimely death in March 2017.

This six-week scholarship supports scholars to develop an issues brief on a topic relevant to primary health, mental health, aged care, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, or LGBTQI health. It also provides the opportunity for scholars to spend 6 weeks working with AHHA in Canberra, and to establish connections with policymakers and practitioners working in their field of research.

The Scholarship is open to postgraduate tertiary students, early career researchers and those working in primary health, mental health, aged care, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, or LGBTQI health. Applications close at 5pm AEST on Friday 11 August 2017. More information on the scholarship is available here. The scholarship recipient will be announced at AHHA’s 18 September AHHA Council dinner in Sydney.

4th International Youth Mental Health Conference, Dublin Ireland 24-26 September

The Conference brings together leaders from around the world who are dedicated to creating positive change in youth mental health. At the core of that change is young people. Through youth engagement at every possible level, IAYMH is working towards making sure that the Conference empowers young people to make a difference.

'Supporting Relationships' conference, Victoria 12 September

Tandem will host the ‘Supporting Relationships’ conference at The Abbotsford Convent in Victoria on 12 September incorporating an Awards Dinner for the Exceptional Service to Families and Carers Awards to be held that evening. Thought-provoking presentations, panel discussions and interactive workshops will inspire, inform and support relationships for better mental health and wellbeing outcomes for all.

Last call for Exhibitors at TheMHS Conference, Sydney 29 August to 1 September

TheMHS Conference is the biggest multidisciplinary mental health conference in Australasia, don’t miss your chance to take part. Limited spaces available.