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Speaking frankly... 
Every failure has a name
Two separate but related events this week reinforced for me just how important it is for those who live with the experience of mental health issues to be central to the planning, implementation and evaluation of interventions aimed at supporting contributing lives.
On Tuesday, at the 2018 National Roundtable on the Mental Health of People with Intellectual Disability, Michael Sullivan provided one of the opening addresses, alongside the NSW Minister for Health, Brad Hazzard. Michael is the Vice Chair of the Council of Intellectual Disability, and lives with intellectual disability. Michael implored the delegates at the roundtable to remember that people with intellectual disability are people with a name, people with a story, people with potential, people with hopes and dreams. In short: people.
In his address, he encouraged us to address people by name. A powerful reminder that people are not their labels, are not their demographic categories, and are not the sum of their problems.
On Monday, at the parliamentary launch of Australians for Mental Health hosted by the wonderful Jessica Rowe, four different perspectives on mental health issues were presented by four people living with direct experience of the failures of our current systems.
Rachael, a young woman who experienced inferior, depersonalised care when she sought help for her mental distress, manifest in part as an eating disorder.
Frank, my namesake, and a father who had sold his house in order to fund mental health treatment for his son who experienced treatment that was confounded by drug dependence. Frank now awaits his son’s release from prison with optimism and determination.
Jamie, who in his own words described the impact of social exclusion, fragmented care, and poor follow-up on his efforts to live a contributing life.
Kerrie, a mother who lost not one, but two sons to suicide, notwithstanding her exhaustive efforts to ensure they had received all the care and support our broken system had to offer.
The launch of Australians for Mental Health is an important reminder that each failure to provide timely, evidence based care to most of the 4 million Australians who experience mental illness each year has a name. Each failure is a lost opportunity. Each failure wastes vast human capital.
Australians for Mental Health aims to build a popular, personal, movement. Advocating for radical system reformation, for appropriate funding, and for proper recognition that mental health issues deserve the same level of care as any other conditions treated by our health system. An inclusive movement driven by people who want to see change.
On Monday, I joined those present at the launch in shedding tears as Rachael, Frank, Jamie and Kerrie recounted their experiences. Like others, I felt a deep sense of responsibility to work even harder to progress the kind of reforms that could prevent others from experiencing similar failures. On Tuesday, Michael provided a further reminder of the human costs of our failure to acknowledge the rights of people living with intellectual disability.
Every one of our failures has a name, but so does every advocate for change.
Warm regards.
Frank Quinlan
Chief Executive Officer
Two month waiting period waiver for private health insurance upgrades for mental health treatment
From 1 April 2018, changes to private health insurance will provide a once-off waiver of the two month waiting period for people who want to upgrade their cover for mental health treatment. This is significant for access to mental health services, as the waiver of the waiting period is not available for any other health condition.
To help consumers better understand how the waiver will work, see the information available at:
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/health-privatehealth-supporting-mental-health
To use this waiver to best advantage, it is important for consumers to understand what their current policy covers now, and what upgrade options they might want to use in the future.
National Disability Insurance Scheme psychosocial pathway workshop in Townsville
CEO update readers will know that the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) has engaged Mental Health Australia to hold consultation workshops on the design of a tailored National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) pathway for people with psychosocial disability. The pathway refers to the experience participants have from their first interaction to their ongoing engagement with the NDIS. Mental Health Australia has already held consultations on this issue in Melbourne, Sydney and Perth and we are pleased to be holding an additional workshop in Townsville on Friday, 20 April 2018.
The workshops have focussed on the experience of NDIS participants with psychosocial disability and their carers and families. Service providers and peak bodies are also encouraged to RSVP, however please note that every attempt is being made to privilege the voice of NDIS participants with psychosocial disability and their carers and families through this process.
Workshop details
Location: Rydges, Southbank Townsville
Date: Friday, 20 April 2018
Time: 10am-3pm
RSVP: Please RSVP via email to jeremy.colebrook@ndis.gov.au with the following:
- your name
- whether you are:
- a NDIS participant
- a carer or family member of someone who is a NDIS participant
- a NDIS service provider
- other
- if you are a NDIS participant whether you would prefer the NDIA contact you directly or through another person (e.g. a carer, support worker etc…)
- whether you will require your support worker to attend with you
- any dietary or accessibility requirements.
The NDIA will contact the potential workshop participant to advise whether a place has been secured.
Blow Bubbles for Bipolar this World Bipolar Day – Friday 30 March
As many of you would already be aware, tomorrow, Friday 30 March is World Bipolar Day.
Bipolar Australia believes that every person who has Bipolar Disorder should know that the condition can be diagnosed, treated, and well managed. But too many of the 568,000 Australians with this serious, life-long condition never hear that good news. This World Bipolar Day, help them end the silence surrounding Bipolar Disorder by taking a few minutes to Blow Bubbles for Bipolar with your colleagues, friends, and family.
My team was pleased to be joined by our friends at the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses and Early Childhood Australia to ‘blow bubbles for bipolar’ a day early today, as you can see from the photo below! To find out more about how you or your organisation can get involved, please visit the Bipolar Australia website.
Next WeekOn Thursday, Director of Policy and Projects Josh Fear and I will be meeting with Caroline Edwards, Deputy Secretary in the Department of Health On Friday, Dr Peggy Brown and I will be co-chairing a meeting of the PHN Advisory Panel on Mental Health in Melbourne. |
Mental Health Australia Member Profiles
The Black Dog Institute is dedicated to understanding, preventing and treating mental illness. They are about creating a world where mental illness is treated with the same level of concern, immediacy and seriousness as physical illness; where scientists work to discover the causes of illness and new treatments, and where discoveries are immediately put into practice through health services, technology and community education. Vision - A mentally healthier world. Mission - Enabling mentally healthier lives through innovations in science, medicine, education, public policy and knowledge translation.
Website http://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/ Facebook www.facebook.com/blackdoginst
Twitter https://twitter.com/blackdoginst/ Instagram www.instagram.com/blackdoginst
Black Swan Health was established in 2014 as an independent not-for-profit company limited by guarantee. Its primary focus is the provision of high quality primary and mental health services that achieve positive health outcomes for the community. Black Swan Health emerged from changes in the funding and service delivery model for primary health care and in 2015, acquired all direct service delivery programs previously provided by Panorama Health Network (formerly known as Perth North Metro Medicare Local, Osborne GP Network and Osborne Division of General Practice). In 2016 Black Swan Health also acquired One Healthy Community (formerly operating as Fremantle Medicare Local). Black Swan Health and its related entities has operated primarily in the health, community and mental health sectors since 1993, developing a considerable body of knowledge in the delivery and evaluation of programs and services. As a registered provider of disability services, Black Swan Health has also embedded the principles of person centred practice into its day to day service delivery and has well established outcome based reporting and measurement systems in place across all areas.
Website - www.blackswanhealth.com.au Facebook - www.facebook.com/BlackSwanHealth Twitter - www.twitter.com/BlackSwanHealth
News
New voice for 4 million Australians with mental ill-health demands Government action
Delivering better services for veterans and their families
Veterans and their families will receive increased support services and income support payments after the Senate passed new legislation last Thursday. The legislation follows a $31 million boost to mental health services which was announced late last year. Minister for Veterans' Affairs Darren Chester said the legislation was part of the Turnbull Government's ongoing commitment to improve services for veterans and their families and delivers a significant part of the Government’s response to the concerns raised in the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Reference’s committee report.
Mental health conditions experienced by first responders
On Tuesday, Senator Urquhart, Opposition Whip in the Senate moved that matters relating to mental health conditions experienced by first responders be referred to the Education and Employment References Committee for inquiry and report by 5 December 2018. In particular, the inquiry will consider the role of the Commonwealth, state and territory governments in addressing the high rates of mental health conditions experienced by first responders, emergency service workers and volunteers.
Reminders
Coming home with bipolar: Information for families & carers
Bipolar Australia has launched ‘Coming home with bipolar’, a new booklet to help the carers of people who have just been diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Over 568,000 Australians have bipolar, and around 45 people every day experience the first symptoms of the condition. This booklet has lots of simple, practical ideas about what carers can do to help the person they care for. Bipolar Australia also launched an extensive economic analysis of bipolar disorder in Australia, which you can find out more about here.
Australian Mental Health Leaders Fellowship 2018
The National Mental Health Commission (the Commission) has announced the Australian Mental Health Leaders Fellowship (Fellowship), a prestigious program for early and emerging leaders who have a passion and commitment to improving outcomes for people with lived experience of mental health issues. The Fellowship is funded by the Australian Government, with development led by the Commission. The Fellowship seeks to develop leadership capability among people who demonstrate commitment and capacity to improving mental health outcomes for Australians. The scope of the Fellowship will extend beyond the mental health sector, with the potential for participants in other sectors who are ready to step into mental health leadership roles in their sector, to be offered a Fellowship. Applications will open on 6 April 2018, and more information, including the full application pack will be available on the Commission’s website from early April 2018.
PANDA seeking new Board members
AHURI and Mind Australia seek partners for research on housing and mental health
AHURI and Mind Australia are seeking partners for an exciting new research venture, Trajectories: the interplay between mental health and housing pathways. As a national study, Trajectories will identify potential practical interventions as well as ways housing and mental health systems can be improved for people with mental health issues. Mind Australia and AHURI are seeking three types of partners: funding partners to support the cost analysis; data partners to assist with data access and data provision; and consultation partners who are organisations or individuals who can assist with recruitment for the planned service provider, consumer, family and carer consultations. Partners will benefit by having access to the data and findings from the research to use for advocacy and policy and project planning.
LiFE Award nominations closing 30 March 2018
The Annual LiFE Awards recognise excellence in suicide prevention and in 2018 will once again be presented at the National Suicide Prevention Conference. The LiFE Awards are a prestigious national event that attract nominations from all areas including business, industry, media, community and government – all with an interest in suicide prevention. Nominations will close at 5.00pm AEDT on 30 March 2018. Find out more about the nomination process here, or click the link below to submit a nomination.
Men Care Too Monday
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