CEO Update - A sector united and a parliament engaged to #fixmentalhealth

A sector united and a parliament engaged to #fixmentalhealth

Yesterday, ‘we, the mental health sector’ united and went to Parliament House to advocate.  Not to back one party over another, but to raise our voice across the parliament. What does that mean? It means we went to be heard.

We also went to listen, and to do that we met with the key decision makers. Decision makers who can influence real change and real mental health reform for the people that we serve. The one in five Australians who will experience mental illness this year.

To have the Prime Minister, Leader of the Opposition, Health Minister and Shadow Minister for Ageing and Mental Health all address our delegation, was a first for Mental Health Australia. But the reason they came is because 50 member organisations came arm-in-arm with consumers and carers and spoke with one, united voice.

These leaders and key decisions makers are passionate, engaged and we clearly attracted their attention. 

We also managed to get the attention of another 40 Senators and MPs on the day, with smaller delegations taking our key messages of reform to all sides of parliament.

Now that we know the right people are listening, and are invested and ready to act, it’s more important than ever that we continue the provide guidance, and outline solutions to help fix mental health.

Yesterday we agreed to formulate a consensus from the mental health sector, to provide a focus for us all, which can then be used to further advocate for specific areas.  Over the coming weeks we’ll work on this consensus statement, as well as follow up on the many productive conversations and meetings our members led at Parliament House yesterday.

Unique identifies, expertise and interests do not have to be sacrificed to demonstrate unity.  It was a good day for mental health, and in particular I would like to thank the following organisations who united and supported us on the day.  Together we can fix mental health.

Aftercare, Anglicare Tasmania Inc, Anxiety Recovery Centre Victoria, Australian College of Mental Health Nurses, Australian Psychological Society, Batyr, beyondblue, Capital Health Network, Carers ACT, Carers Australia, Catholic Social Services Australia, CoHealth, Dietitians Association of Australia, Exercise & Sports Science Australia, Flourish Australia, GROW, Headspace, Helping Minds, LGBTI Health Alliance, Marathon Health, Mental Health Australia, Mental Health Carers Australia, Mental Health Coalition of South Australia, Mental Health Community Coalition ACT, Mental Health Professionals Network Ltd, Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia, Mind Australia, National Mental Health Consumer & Carer Forum, National Rural Health Alliance, Neami National, Occupational Therapy Australia, One Door Mental Health, Orygen, Private Mental Health Consumer Carer Network, Psychotherapy & Counselling Federation of Australia, PTSD Australia New Zealand Ltd, Queensland Alliance for Mental Health, R U OK?, ReachOut, Relationships Australia, RFDS, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Rural & Remote Mental Health, Sane Australia, Suicide Prevention Australia, TeamHealth NT, The Butterfly Foundation, The Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, TheMHS Learning Network Inc, United Synergies, Vicserv, WayAhead - Mental Health Association NSW, Wellways, and the Western Australian Association for Mental Health.

My special thanks to Lach Searle and all the staff of Mental Health Australia who worked so hard to make the day a success. And to the Mental Health Australia Chair Jennifer Westacott and the whole Board for their ongoing efforts to support our work.

Thank you and keep up the good work everybody.

Warm regards 
Frank