CEO Update - 24 October
This Week
Blueprint for Mental Health Reform
This week we have been pretty focused on our Blueprint for Mental Health Reform and incorporating the feedback we have received from members and stakeholders - thanks to all those who have contributed. With the National Mental Health Commission’s Review coming to an end (due to report to government on 30 November) our minds turn to the Government’s response, and to the challenges of implementation.
Human Rights Commission - Tim Wilson
I was delighted that Human Rights Commissioner Tim Wilson took the time to visit Mental Health Australia this week to discuss the Commission’s emerging agenda, and the rights of people who experience mental illness and those who care for them. In particular, we discussed the issue of seclusion and restraint, and the extent to which current practices represent an infringement of the rights of people who experience mental illness and an over-reach of government authority. I hope the Commission might consider its role in ensuring the fundamental rights of people who experience mental illness are respected.
Mental health focus needed - Children’s Week
You may have seen our media release about Children’s Week and the need for the country to consider a mental health and wellbeing focus at each stage of early life development. The mental health system is not currently geared to look after the mental health and wellbeing of children and this needs to be addressed. To read the full release please visit our website.
Mental Health Conference Funding Program
The September Funding round of the Mental Health Conference Funding program is currently being finalised but grants have been awarded to the following organisations:
- Society for Mental Health Research – SMHR 14 – Adelaide, December 2014
- Monash University – Improving the wellbeing of children and adolescents with intellectual and development disabilities and their families – Melbourne, November 2014
- Suicide Prevention Australia – National Coalition for Suicide Prevention, Designing a National Research Action Plan for Suicide Prevention – Sydney, February 2015
- Junction Australia – When Depression comes to work – Kingscote SA, October 2014
- Macquarie University – Silence no more: the mental and physical health consequences of child sexual abuse – Sydney, April 2015
- Mental Health in Multicultural Australia/University of South Australia – CALD Perspectives Symposium: CALD Consumers and Carers collaborating with clinicians and mental health policymakers on implementation of the Framework for Mental Health in Multicultural Australia in Acute Mental Health Inpatient Units – Brisbane, May 2015
- Open Minds – Supporting Intimacy – Brisbane, Feb 2015
- The Butterfly Foundation – At Home with Eating Disorders – Sydney, May 2015
The next funding round will take place in March 2015.
Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health
Our friends at Orygen Youth Health Research Centre this week confirmed that the Coalition Government has fulfilled its pre-election promise to provide $18M over four years to establish Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health. This funding is exciting news for youth mental health research and innovation in Australia. It will catalyse an expansion of Orygen’s activities at a national level with a particular focus on: delivering cutting-edge research, policy development, innovative clinical services, and evidence-based training and education to ensure that there is continuous improvement in the treatments and care provided to young people experiencing mental ill-health.
Along with this announcement Orygen has undergone a number of changes, including the introduction of a new brand identity and a new website.
Member discount - Brekky Central
Those of you who joined us for the Grace Groom Memorial Oration recently would recall hearing from Adam Boland, the former Executive Producer of Sunrise, about his experiences with depression and bipolar disorder. The Q&A session with host Chris Uhlmann and keynote speaker Ray Griggs was entertaining and provided an interesting insight into how mental illness is treated in the television industry.
On the day before the Oration Adam launched his new book ‘Brekky Central’ and has very kindly agreed to give Mental Health Australia members a 25% discount for purchases made before 22 December. To take advantage of this offer, members can email us to receive the discount code at membership@mhaustralia.org
Parliamentary news
Parliamentary Sitting Dates 2015
The proposed parliamentary sitting calendar for 2015 was released this week. The calendar can be accessed via the link below.
Reminders
Comedy with a twist: WISE Stand Up for Mental Health
Our friends at WISE Employment are holding a night of laughter, courage and candour - the WISE Stand Up for Mental Health (WSMH) comedy show at the Sydney Town Hall on 30 October from 7pm. This year, eight budding Sydney comedians with a mental illness attended a three month comedy school. The classes were run by well-known Canadian comedian David Granirer, who has depression and is the founder of Stand Up for Mental Health. The school empowers the comedians to share their experiences of mental illness through stand-up comedy and reduce the stigma and fear that often surround mental illness in Australia. This promises to be a fantastic event, visit the website to purchase your tickets now.
Raising Our Voices - Bridging the Divide to Culturally Appropriate Mental Health Care
The Raising our Voices – Bridging the Divide to Culturally Appropriate Mental Health Care Conference is being held in Canberra on 7 November. I will be speaking at the event and the Conference themes include advocacy, migration, language needs, disability and mental health, youth and refugees, aged, gender-specific issues, arts and well-being, suicide prevention, recovery perspectives and the ‘lived experience’ and participation for CaLD consumers and carers. If you are interested in attending please visit the website for more details.
New mental health beds open at Latrobe Regional Hospital (Victoria)
Latrobe Regional Hospital will receive a major mental health boost from the Napthine Government, with a new five-bed mother and baby unit and six new mental health inpatient beds for people with a mental illness. Minister for Mental Health Mary Wooldridge officially opened the new beds this week.
Establishing the NHMRC National Institute for Dementia Research
The first step to establish a National Institute for Dementia Research was taken by the Federal Government this week. The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has opened an Expression of Interest process for organisations interested in providing services to establish the institute. Expressions of Interest must be lodged by AusTender by 10am Monday, 17 November. Further information is available from the website.
6th Australian Rural and Remote Mental Health Symposium
The 6th Australian Rural & Remote Mental Health Symposium is being held in Albury from 12-14 November. The Symposium organisers have announced that there will be a interactive workshop day on Friday 14th November. These workshops will address a range of topics that cover suicide prevention, technology, Aboriginal engagement and working with youth and families. Workshop places are free to the first 100 full registration delegates that book their workshops. Limited spaces are still available. One of the workshops will be on working with people who have borderline personality disorder, by Ms Kelly Watt-McMahon from Melbourne Psychotherapy Consultants. For more details please visit the website.
TheMHS Summer Forum - ‘Men’s Mental Health: Building a Healthier Future’
TheMHS Summer Forum is an annual two day educational program held in Sydney that examines the obstacles to good mental health services, highlights recent research, sets out the challenges, and focuses on policies, programs and directions for the future. TheMHS Summer Forum 2015 will bring together men and women from all walks of life to discuss new thinking, latest research, and innovative programs for improving men’s mental health. It will ask us to reflect, to listen and to work together for a healthier future for men. Improving men’s mental health is everyone’s business. The Forum will run on February 19 and 20, for further details please visit the website.
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.
Maximising social and economic participation for those with mental ill-health
A reminder that this forum for policy makers, researchers and service providers is being held next week, 30 October, at the Innovation Centre Sunshine Coast. Participants will 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.
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.
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 brief 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.
Warm regards
Frank
Frank Quinlan
Chief Executive Officer
