CEO Update - 17 October

 CEO Update, Mental Health AustraliaMental Health Begins with Me!

This Week

The week after the week that was!

This week we did a lot of follow up and catch up after the very busy National Mental Health Week last week. The policy team have worked hard on capturing the feedback we received on the Blueprint for Mental Health Reform that was discussed at the Members Policy Forum. The communications team are still trying to keep on top of the many promises that 1010.org.au www site received - really encouraging to see so much activity across all our social media platforms.

I’d like to repeat my thanks to all those who made National Mental Health Week 2014 such a success. The growth year on year has been substantial, and I hope that we can continue to build the momentum in the years ahead.

 

Mental As

Speaking of thanks, you may have seen an open letter that our Chair Jennifer Westacott wrote to the Managing Director of the ABC, Mark Scott, earlier this week. Jennifer congratulated Mark on last week’s ABC programming and the impact that the Mental As platform had on the sector’s ability to engage the public in important conversations around mental health. Jennifer also called on the ABC to make this an annual event. You can read the letter here.
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Australian Healthcare Summit

This week I presented our 7 Point Plan for Taking Action on Mental Health at the Australian Healthcare Summit, along with some reflections about where mental health reform is up to, and where it might be headed. As we come close to the end of the review being conducted by the National Mental Health Commission, attention will turn to Government for its response. It was encouraging to hear National Mental Health Commission CEO David Butt (who also spoke at the summit) describe the view of the sector as well unified. Retaining this unity will be important as the government considers what action it might take next. We are hopeful that our final Blueprint, along with the 7 Point Plan, will provide a clear direction for future action, and a rallying point for all those across the sector who are working for reform. 
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Carers Week

We have been celebrating Carers Week this week and in partnership with Arafmi Mental Health CarersMind Australia and the Private Mental Health Consumer Carer Network (Australia) we were pleased to announce a new project that will develop a practical guide for working with carers of people with a mental illness. The guide will assist service providers to work with carers in a meaningful, mutually beneficial way. I will keep you up to date with progress in future updates. To read our media release please click the button below.
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Inquiry into the Extent of Income Inequality in Australia

Yesterday, our Director of Policy and Programs Josh Fear gave evidence to the Senate Community Affairs Committee as part of its Inquiry into the Extent of Income Inequality in Australia. Our submission to the Inquiry describes the impact of income inequality on access to health services, housing, employment services and income support, and considers some specific measures currently before the Senate likely to affect people with mental illness.
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DiG Festival

Today, our Communications Director Chris Wagner participated in a panel discussion on mental health in the digital age, as part of the DiG Festival in Newcastle. Hosted by the Hunter Institute of Mental Health, the panel included Sean Parnell and Neil Mann from NewsCorp and explored the issues faced by the modern media and by the mental health sector, now heavily influenced by social media. The panel found that the opportunities presented by social media heavily outweigh any potential risks.

 

Mindframe launch new app

Chris also attended the launch of a brand new app for journalists created by Mindframe, a program run by the Hunter Institute of Mental Health. The free app provides easy portable access to the Mindframe Guidelines and will be an invaluable tool for media professionals looking to safely report on suicide and mental health. The safe and careful portrayal of suicide and mental health is so important to our community and we welcome this technology from the Institute. It’s available on apple and android. 
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National Mental Health Consumer Organisation Establishment Project timeline extended

Last week we were granted a contract extension by the Department of Health to allow the NMHCO Establishment Project to continue beyond its scheduled completion date. The Project was initially scheduled to wrap up at the end of September 2014, however uncertainty regarding future commitments awaiting the completion of the current NMHC Review of Mental Health Services and Programmes, has meant that completion of the Project is now scheduled for the end of May 2015 - when we hope the intentions of the Government will be known.
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Mental Health Information Strategy Sub-Committee (MHISSC)

Emily Clay, Manager of Policy and Projects has been in Melbourne this week for a two-day meeting of the Mental Health Information Strategy Sub-Committee (MHISSC).  MHISSC is a data-focused meeting, with representatives from Commonwealth and State/Territory governments, consumers and carers, and from private and community sectors. Some highlights included discussion around the soon-to-be-released tool to survey national mental health consumer experiences of services, measuring recovery, outcomes-measurement in community-managed organisations and an update on work to develop a new mental health care classification by the Independent Hospital Pricing Authority. 
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Integrating Mental Health into the NDIS Conference

A reminder about the upcoming Integrating Mental Health into the NDIS conference in Sydney on 27-28 November in Sydney. This year’s conference will include keynote presentations from myself, David Butt from the National Mental Health Commission, Eddie Bartnik, special adviser to the NDIA and David Meldrum from Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia. 

Just to be clear, this not a Mental Health Australia event, but because of the importance of the topic, we have negotiated a special member-only discount with the conference organisers. Registration for the two days will be $900 for Mental Health Australia members, compared $1395 for non-members. Several members have already taken advantage of this offer, if you would like to join them please email us at membership@mhaustralia.org to receive a unique code for registration. I hope you can join us at this significant event.
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Annual Report released

Our Annual Report for the 2013-14 financial year is now available for download from the website. The report describes in detail the broad range of projects the team has been involved in during the period including the move to a new Strategic Plan, involvement in the NMHC Review process and the NDIS Capacity Building Project to name a few.  
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Grace Groom Memorial Oration - speech now available

A transcript of this year’s Grace Groom Memorial Oration is now available from our website. Vice Admiral Ray Griggs AO CSC RAN gave the keynote address and outlined many of the issues facing a modern defence force that is looking to respond to the issue of mental health and wellbeing amongst service men and women.
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Senate Estimates

Next week will see the Parliament return, and the process of Senate Estimates get underway. The process allows opposition and cross-bench Senators to ask public servants detailed questions across all the portfolios. While the exchanges occasionally get heated, the process often yields detailed information about government programs that is not otherwise available. The hearings are usually web-cast live and can be well worth following. 
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Reminders

There’s Life After - resources for Year 12 students

Our friends at ReachOut.com have launched a campaign designed to reach over 220,000 young people in October who are preparing for their Year 12 exams. The campaign features messages from a swag of Australians with the message that ‘There’s Life After’. Visit the website for more.
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CareCompass - health coaching service for carers

Later this month, Janssen a pharmaceutical company of Johnson and Johnson, will be launching a new health coaching service for carers of those living with schizophrenia called CareCompass, which is designed to help carers focus on their own needs and wellbeing. To raise awareness of this new program, Janssen will be highlighting the needs for support services for carers through the media.  To accompany this activity, Janssen is keen to be able to hear from carers of those living with schizophrenia who may be willing to share their story of what life as a carer is like with a journalist, and to also share any tips and advice they have for other carers. If this is something of interest, please contact Sally from Ogilvy PR Health (Janssen’s PR partner) on 02 8281 3252 or sally@ogilvyprhealth.com. Sally will arrange a convenient time for you to have an initial chat about your story and be able to provide you with more detail on what may be involved in speaking to the media. 
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Living Well: Putting people at the centre of mental health reform in NSW

A report prepared by the NSW Mental Health Commission was released this week. The Report tells the story of mental health and wellbeing in NSW from the perspective of people who live in the state. Some people speak personally, while the experiences and hopes of others are embedded in the words on every page, including eight ‘Journeys’ that describe what it’s like living with mental health issues and engaging with the mental health system, from the earliest years to older age. The Report was developed as a companion document to the Strategic Plan - Living Well: A Strategic Plan for Mental Health in NSW 2014 - 2024. That Plan sets an ambitious agenda for system reform over the coming decade, and sets actions to take NSW through the first phase of those reforms. Further details are available from the website.
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Rethink Mental Health Project: A Long Term Plan for Mental Health in Tasmania

The Tasmanian Government recently launched the Rethink Mental Health Project. The Project will provide an independent analysis of Tasmania’s public, private, federal, State and community mental health services. It will map existing services, identify gaps and barriers to accessing services and treatment, and make recommendations for system reform and strategic investment into services, workforce and capital infrastructure. The result will be a long-term plan for mental health in Tasmania that guides investment into the next decade. Our friends at the Mental Health Council of Tasmania will play a lead role in the Rethink project, working in partnership with the Government.
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Connections - a resource for early childhood educators

Early childhood services, such as preschool, family day care or long day care, provide support for thousands of children and families every day. Over the weekend, the Hon Sussan Ley MP Assistant Minister for Education released the Connections resource for early childhood educators about supporting children’s wellbeing. The resource was developed by the Child, Youth and Wellbeing team at the Hunter Institute of Mental Health in consultation with peak bodies and early childhood educators across the country. It is an example of a practical way to support sectors outside of health to have a role in the promotion of mental health and wellbeing and the prevention of mental illness. You can watch a short video that describes the resource in more detail here or visit the website for more details. 
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Movember investing millions to change the face of men’s mental health

Mental Health Australia members Movember announced last week that they will be investing $22.3 million as part of their Australian Mental Health Initiative. The initiative brings together teams from across sectors and around the country to collaborate on projects that focus on keeping men and boys mentally healthy in the community and workplace, encouraging people to take action early and reduce the stigma associated with mental illness. The initiative will fund a total of eight collaborating teams to implement three year projects. Several of our member organisations will be involved including beyondblue, the Black Dog InstituteSydney’s Brain and Mind Institute and the Australasian Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health

Don’t forget there’s only two weeks until this year’s Movember campaign kicks off. Mo Bros and Mo Sistas can register at the website. 
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H20 International Health Summit - Healthy People, Successful Economy

The World Medical Association will join with the Australian Medical Association and AMA Victoria to host the H20 International Health Summit on Thursday 13 to Friday 14 November 2014 in Melbourne, Australia. I am pleased to say that I will making a breif presentation to the Summit which  will be an opportunity for international medical professions to come together and put the spotlight on health issues prior to the G20 Leaders’ Summit. Health of Nations is a core component of the Wealth of Nations and it has been said that “Health is the greatest social capital a nation can have”. A productive society depends on a healthy engaged and confident workforce. More details on the Summit are available from the website.
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Think Outcomes forum

Think Outcomes is a two-day forum to challenge, learn and develop a plan of action for the future of social outcomes in Australia presented by the Centre for Social Impact (CSI), the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY) and the Social Impact Measurement Network Australia (SIMNA). For participants looking to explore what meaningful social change can emerge from measuring outcomes and who want to influence debate, develop capability, and enable change.

Our Director of Policy and Projects Josh Fear is presenting at the conference and until 30 October ten small not-for-profit organisations will have the chance to attend for free. To enter into the ‘Think Outcomes Spring Lottery’, please visit the website.
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National Statement on Health Literacy

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has identified health literacy an an important contributor to the safety and quality of health care in Australia. Health literacy affects how people understand, access and use health information and services, and how they make decisions about their health and health care. However, almost 60% of Australians don’t have the level of individual health literacy they need to do this. The Commission has undertaken a stocktake of health literacy activities, developed a background paper and engaged in broad consultation to clarify how health literacy affects the safety and quality of health care. The background paper, along with a National Statement on Health Literacy, has now been released and is available from the website. 
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Results of international carers survey released

The results of the EUFAMI international survey of carers of people living with schizophrenia have been released. The survey highlights that approximately three out of four carers of those living with schizophrenia are mainly (34%) or solely (38%) responsible for caring, placing a hugh emotional and physical burden on them. The full results of the survey can be found at the EUFAMI website.
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Blue Knot Day

On Blue Knot Day, 27 October, our friends at Adults Surviving Child Abuse are asking all Australians to unite in support of the 5 million adults who have experienced childhood trauma and abuse. Blue Knot Day will be supported by a week-long series of activities and events held between 27 October and 2 November and there are many ways in which you can play a part. For more details about this important day and how you can get involved please visit the website.​
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Maximising social and economic participation for those with mental ill-health

A forum for policy makers, researchers and service providers is being held on 30 October at the Innovation Centre Sunshine Coast to discuss how to maximise social and economic participation for those with mental ill-health. The forum is free to attend and promises to be a very important date on the calendar. Full details including the program are available from the website.
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Warm regards
Frank

Frank Quinlan
Chief Executive Officer

Mental Health Begins with Me!

 

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