CEO Update: Timely support at an optimistic time for mental health reform
Timely support at an optimistic time for mental health reform
Next week, more than 90 organisations from the mental health and suicide prevention sector will write to the Prime Minister highlighting our Charter 2020: Time To Fix Mental Health. The show of support and unity is timely.
It’s timely following a hugely successful World Suicide Prevention Day and R U OK? Day this week. And timely given the great optimism there is for mental health reform ahead of the release of the Productivity Commission Inquiry Draft Report in October/November.
The Prime Minister, the Treasurer and the Minister for Health have all spoken about their deep personal commitment to reducing suicides and improving Australia’s mental health.
In addition, the Productivity Commission has been tasked with an Inquiry examining the impact of mental health on people’s ability to participate socially and economically. The Productivity Commission has already shown an understanding of the multifaceted nature of mental health with its first paper in relation to the review canvassing issues across the social determinants of mental health.
It’s no secret that the mental health sector suffers from review fatigue. Multiple reviews have been conducted into mental health in recent decades, highlighting remarkably similar issues. Reviews have offered high quality articulation of issues and provided some policy solutions. However, these reviews have not been followed with high quality and comprehensive implementation. The current Productivity Commission Inquiry has the potential to be different, to be a genuine catalyst for real reform, especially if we unite behind the greater cause of implementing the report, rather than trying to fragment it.
With this in mind, and in addition the Joint Letter and Charter 2020 Time To Fix Mental Health, Mental Health Australia has invested considerably in supporting the review through three submissions providing advice about:
- the appropriate suite and mix of mental health services and enabling systems and structures
- a global evidence review of some international models of care
- the appropriate intergovernmental governance and financial arrangements required to underpin a robust mental health system.
All three submissions are available on our website at www.mhaustralia.org while the final Joint Letter and Charter 2020 Time To Fix Mental Health will be distributed wide and far next week.
A Charter that speaks to the need for a national agreement for mental health, person-led care, addressing the social determinants of health, investing in prevention and early intervention, Indigenous social and emotional wellbeing, integration of support, expanding community based mental health care, supporting the workforce and building the evidence base and accountability.
A Charter that provides some guidance to government on where to focus its attention in response to the review and in doing so make lasting systemic reform, realising the social and economic benefits that a well-functioning mental health system can enable.
A Charter that defines the core issues that unite the mental health and suicide prevention sector.
A Charter to ensure we all work hard to implement this once in a generation opportunity, the Productivity Commission Inquiry into Mental Health.
Warm regards,
Frank Quinlan
Chief Executive Officer
Vale Leonie Manns
We were saddened to hear of the passing of Leonie Manns this week, a strong and influential leader of the consumer/ lived experience movement from the 1990’s. Leonie will be remembered as an influencer across the sector, nationally with the historically significant National Community Advisory Group Mental Health, THEMHS Conference committee, NSW Consumer Advisory Group, and multiple committees and policy advisory roles and internationally as Chairman of World Network of Users and Survivors of Psychiatry. Leonie was a CEO of MHCC NSW, a recipient of a Winston Churchill Memorial Trust Fellowship In 1998 ‘To investigate the provision of consumer driven mental health services - UK, USA, Italy’, and besides being a trainer and spokesperson retired into an enjoyable life with friends and family. Her funeral will be held next Wednesday, 18 September at 2pm at the Eastern Suburbs Memorial Cemetery and Crematorium at Matraville, in Sydney.
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The 2019 World Mental Health Day campaign is officially underway! The more organisations who commit to promoting awareness, the more we reduce the stigma surrounding mental illness and play our part in creating a mentally healthy community. Looking to attend or host an event on Thursday 10 October? You can do this HERE. You can also make a #MentalHealthPromise. Choose from a pre-written promise or get creative and write your own! Then share the promise amongst your social networks.
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On Monday, Harry Lovelock, Director of Policy and Projects will be attending the Parliamentary Friends of Mental Health discussion. The discussion is regarding Mental Health support services for people living with severe and complex mental health issues. On Tuesday, I will be in Melbourne speaking at the Allied Health Professions Australia Policy Forum to the topic of: Mental Health is everyone’s business. On Wednesday, the National Consumer and Carer Forum will be meeting with representatives from the Mental Health Australia Board. The Mental Health Australia Board will also be meeting via teleconference later in the day. On Thursday, Harry will be attending the next meeting of the National Mental Health Sector Reference Group in Melbourne |
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