CEO Update: How can we harness the momentum into 2021?
How can we harness the momentum into 2021?
The Flannel Flower was chosen as symbol for Mental Health Australia because like many native Australian plants, it needs to be adaptable and enduring in order to survive. Traits that certainly sum up how many of us have addressed the challenges of 2020. A unique year indeed, and a year where we’ve seen the momentum for mental health reform build like never before.
This week was the first time I’ve been in room with the entire team at Mental Health Australia, some six months into the role, and while that really sums up the uniqueness of 2020, it was the reason for the ‘team meeting’ that really drives us at Mental Health Australia, and that was to look ahead… and look strategically at how we can advocate for and with the mental health system. How we can add value for members, our stakeholders and ultimately the people with lived experience of mental illness and their families, friends and carers.
Yesterday we held a fantastic Grace Groom Memorial Oration with Dr Brendan Murphy – via video of course – but again the theme from possibly our future ‘Australian of the Year’ was to work with Government, to present ideas, and to maximise the intent and momentum that exists for lasting and transformative mental health reform.
In Dr Murphy’s own words from yesterday’s Oration…
“I genuinely believe 2021, born out of disruption of 2020, will be a year to be remembered (for the right reasons) for mental health reform.”
It was also pleasing to hear Dr Murphy say…
“Mental Health Australia is highly respected and we see you as a very important stakeholder for the Department…”
So how can we look ahead to 2021 and beyond with hope and optimism? Especially as many of us are only looking forward to having a break over the coming weeks – exhausted as a result of 2020.
For me we have to work together to harness the momentum that is here.
We have to harness the fact that there have been many responsive investments in mental health service delivery, primarily and appropriately directed towards bushfire recovery, suicide prevention and the pandemic response.
Not only have these initiatives helped the one in five Australians affected by mental illness annually, but they have also gone a long way towards helping the sector deal with the increased demand that has endured throughout 2020, and will continue in 2021.
And just like Australia has led the way globally in dealing with the physical health impact of the pandemic, some of the mental health responses have also been world-leading.
These initiatives and investments, coupled with opportunities stemming from the Productivity Commission Inquiry into Mental Health, the National Mental Health Commission’s Vision 2030, and the pending Suicide Prevention advice to the Prime Minister are all a clear indication that momentum for lasting reform has well and truly begun.
And I’ll say it again, we just have to harness it now, and work on how ‘we’, the mental health ecosystem, can best advocate for continued and lasting reform.
Have a good weekend.
Leanne Beagley
CEO
Mental Health Australia Annual Report
Mental Health Australia Board Elections
As many of you know The Mental Health Australia Ltd Board consists of up to eight elected Directors from the Mental Health Australia Ltd membership and two additional Board-Appointed Directors.
As mentioned at yesterday’s AGM this year’s election was a strongly contested one and we are delighted our Members are so engaged in the governance of Mental Health Australia.
Congratulations to the following people who have been re-elected to the Board of Mental Health Australia and will fill two year terms through to the 2022 AGM:
Mr Jeremy Coggin is the Director nominated by a Carer Member and is from Mental Health Carers Australia,
Mr Mark Orr from Flourish Australia
We also pleased to welcome Mr Heath Fereday, the Director nominated by a Consumer Member from GROW Australia for a 12-month term.
To fill the two-year vacancies, we have Mr Joe Hooper from Rural and Remote Mental Health, and Dr Cathy Andronis from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners as newly elected Board members. Welcome to you all.
Of course we would also like to thank our outgoing Board members Jennifer Bowers and Kym Jenkins for their continued support, counsel and acumen.
Grace Groom Memorial Scholarship Winners
The Grace Groom Memorial Scholarship is a donation by Mental Health Australia in memory of former CEO, the late Grace Groom. The purpose of the scholarship is to provide financial support to international or domestic postgraduate students enrolled in study and research relating to mental health issues.
In 2020, Mental Health Australia is in a fortunate position to be able to award three Grace Groom Memorial Scholarships of $5,000 each to students at the Australian National University.
Congratulations to Isabelle Yujuico, Hannah Sheppard and Rachelle Dawson.
Isabelle Yujuico is a PhD candidate at ANU’s Centre for Mental Health Research. Her research focuses on disclosures of suicidal thoughts, exploring factors that affect whether disclosures and responses to them are beneficial or harmful. The research will inform interventions and strategies for suicide prevention and consumer help-seeking. It can also prepare consumers to make disclosures, and carers to respond to disclosures in helpful ways.
Hannah Sheppard is PhD Candidate at the ANU’s Research School of Psychology. Her research aims to measure and describe existing prejudice towards people with borderline personality disorder at an individual, public, and healthcare provider level. This research will improve our understanding of BPD stigma and will inform stigma-reduction efforts and effective interventions to improve the health outcomes for those living with BPD.
Rachelle Dawson is a PhD candidate in clinical psychology and a Research and Clinical Assistant. Her research is in understanding how expressive writing about traumatic experiences can be therapeutic for people showing symptoms of post-traumatic stress. This research will help us understand post-traumatic stress recovery and prevention and individualise treatment approaches, as well as service delivery through telehealth platforms.
Your Feedback is Welcome - World Mental Health Day 2020 Survey
We would like to invite you to participate in a short survey that is being conducted by Kantar Public on behalf of Mental Health Australia. We would love to hear your feedback about your experience with this year’s World Mental Health Day campaign “Look after your mental health, Australia”. Your feedback will help us inform the development of future mental health promotion campaigns.
Also by completing this survey, you will go into the running to win one of three $100 e-gift cards.
The survey will take only 10 to 15 minutes to complete, is completed online and will need to be completed in one sitting. If you would like to complete the survey, please click the link below.
World Mental Health Day 2020 Survey
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The Framework for Mental Health in Multicultural Australia (the Framework) is a free, nationally available online resource which allows organisations and individual practitioners to evaluate and enhance their cultural responsiveness. It has been mapped against national standards to help you meet your existing requirements, with access to a wide range of support and resources.
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