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Speaking frankly... 
Celebrating our strength and the people who make us strong
This week I received another reminder of how lucky I am to doing the work that I do, alongside some truly inspirational people.
Coming so closely after we gathered with sadness to mark the loss of our dear friend and colleague Jackie Crowe, it was good to gather again on Monday and celebrate the achievements of some of the inspirational people working to advance better mental health.
This week the Australian Mental Health Prize was awarded jointly to Janet Meagher and Allan Fels. While I do not envy the judging committee the task they had to select winners from such a stunning list of candidates, it would be impossible not to recognise the tremendous contribution of these two winners.
Janet Meagher is a longstanding consumer advocate and former National Mental Health Commissioner who is well known to many of us, and has been an inspiration to many of us. I was lucky enough to meet Janet in my very first days on the job, and she has been a constant source of wisdom, encouragement and challenge ever since. Janet is generous with her time and energy, and I know for a fact she is just as willing to share her formidable insight with a consumer colleague as with a Minister of government. While I suspect Janet is a fundamentally private person, she has none the less thrust herself into the public discourse, raising her voice for those who are so often voiceless.
Allan Fels is well known to us as the outgoing co-chair of the National Mental Health Commission, but lesser known to most for his role as a mental health carer. What a gift to have someone with Allen’s depth of learning and broad economic experience also carrying forward the day-to-day challenges of caring for a family member living with mental illness. Mounting arguments for the productivity gains to be made by improving mental health services alongside the best of the nation’s economists.
And let’s not forget that the baton was passed to these two fine winners by last year’s equally fine inaugural Australian Mental Health Prize winner, Kim Ryan. Surely no more enthusiastic advocate for mental health reform exists!
Amongst other finalists (including Patrck Hardwick, a Mental Health Australia Board member), amongst other nominees, in service organisations, in homes, in workplaces, in universities, in the public service, in governments, the mental health sector we all work in is generously endowed with people who bring lived experience, skill, wisdom, persistence, enthusiasm and more to the shared task of reform.
Most days we are focussed on the failure or frustration of our efforts – the slow progress, the insurmountable challenges, the under investment, the ongoing discrimination.
This week was a chance to focus on the positive, on the inspirational, on the progress, and on the hope. I have been privileged to work alongside the winners of the Australian Mental Health Prize, and will continue to draw on their wisdom and strength.
I would encourage you all to review the list of 2017 finalists for the Australian Mental Health Prize and to find some inspiration for your own efforts. I’d also encourage you to think about the friend, colleague or family member who you might nominate for next year’s award.
Let’s celebrate our strength and the people that make us strong.
Frank Quinlan
Chief Executive Officer
Annual General Meeting - Tue 28 Nov from 5.30pm
Members are reminded of the Mental Health Australia AGM next Tuesday from 5.30pm at the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra. If you are able to attend, and are yet to RSVP please email Erina.Sheely@mhaustralia.org. If you are unable to attend, please ensure to send through a proxy vote to Kylie.Wake@mhaustralia.org
Members & Friends Dinner Tue 28 Nov from 6.30pm
Thanks to all who have RSVP'd for the Mental Health Australia Members & Friends Dinner at the National Portrait Gallery next Tuesday evening. If you have any enquiries about this event please email Felicity.Wilkins@mhaustralia.org
Grace Groom Memorial Oration - Wed 29 Nov from 7.30am
The Mental Health Australia Grace Groom Memorial Oration is a premier speech on the mental health calendar and will be delivered by Minister for Health The Hon Greg Hunt MP this year. Thanks again to all of those who have RSVP'd and we look forward to welcoming you all to Old Parliament House for breakfast next Wednesday morning from 7.30am. If you have any enquiries about this event please email Felicity.Wilkins@mhaustralia.org
Members Policy Forum - Wed 29 Nov from 9.30am
The Mental Health Australia Members Policy Forum will follow the Grace Groom Memorial Oration next Wednesday, starting from 9.30am. The MPF is expected to close at 3.00pm with the following topics to be discussed:
- Political environment
- Mental Health Australia update
- Economic and Social Case for a 10 year investment plan for mental health
- NDIS update
- PHN Advisory Group update
- Members Soap Box
To find out more and to purchase a combined ticket for all events, or individual event tickets as required, please click on the link below.
Next WeekNext Tuesday we are hosting our final face-to-face Board meeting for the year, followed by our Annual General Meeting and Board Election Meeting. |
Parliamentary News
Dual winners of Australian Mental Health Prize announced by Minister Hunt
Janet Meagher, a champion for the rights of people with mental health issues, and Professor Allan Fels, Chairman of the National Mental Health Commission, have been awarded the Australian Mental Health Prize.
Better care for patients as mental health care goes digital
Patients can now sign up online to a new app which has potential to change the way Australia's mental health care system operates. The AISquared (Actionable Intime Insights) app has been developed by a team of researchers in digital psychiatry at Flinders University, and offers real-time digital updates on patient status to clinicians. The app also identifies patterns that represent when a patient may be at risk of relapse and hospitalisation - and these insights can help patients access appropriate care in the community and prevent hospitalisations. Now in a 24 month trial phase, patients can nominate themselves to take part, and mental health professionals are also able to participate. Both groups can sign up to use AISquared by visiting the website www.aisquared.co
Reminders
Guidelines for integrated suicide-related crisis and follow-up care in Emergency Departments
Black Dog Institute has published Guidelines for integrated suicide-related crisis and follow-up care in Emergency Departments and other acute settings. These Guidelines have been produced by the Black Dog Institute’s LifeSpan initiative using ‘Delphi’ methodology and are based on the input of leading clinicians and people with a lived experience of suicide. It is hoped that these guidelines can be used by those working in acute settings to inform service planning, better equip and support staff to work effectively with those at risk of suicide, and guide empathic, compassionate responses to people experiencing suicidal crisis.
RSVP reminder: Business Council of Australia/beyondblue Workplace Mental Health Performance Metrics Framework Workshop
beyondblue and the Business Council of Australia have teamed up on a resource to support organisations to measure and improve their workplace mental health performance. For those interested in attending can you please confirm attendance by emailing reception@bca.com.au by COB today, Friday 24 November.
Australian Psychosis Conference - September 2018 - save the date
The Australian Psychosis Conference aims to bring together researchers, clinicians, consumers and carers, all interested in the best possible outcomes for people with a psychotic illness. The conference will have parallel streams, covering up to the minute research, discussions on best practice and treatment and debate as to how best to encourage recovery. The program aims to synthesise what we know about psychosis, how best to treat it and how best to deliver that treatment in our society in 2018.
Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care
The Commission is seeking feedback from the primary care sector stakeholders through an open consultation process open now until Friday 22 December. A consultation paper has been developed outlining the Commission’s approach to this work. The Commission is seeking feedback on its proposed strategies as well as feedback on other strategies, tools and resources that need to be developed to support improvements in patient safety and quality for primary care services.
Launch of the Australian Charities Report
The Australian Charities Report 2016 is set to be launched by the Assistant Minister to the Treasurer, the Hon. Michael Sukkar MP, at a free event in Canberra on Wednesday 6 December. Places are limited - if you are interested in attending, please RSVP at the Eventbrite link below.
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