Mental Health Australia acknowledges Australia’s First Peoples, and in particular to the Ngunnawal and Ngambri people who are the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we conduct much of our work. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.

Data reveals concerning trends in access to mental health supports

Data from the recent Report on Government Services highlights a concerning trend: increasing numbers of people in Australia are delaying seeking out mental health support due to rising costs. 
 
In 2022-23, 19.3 per cent of people delayed seeing a mental health professional due to cost, up from 12.0 per cent in 2020-21, and two per cent fewer people received clinical mental health services in 2022-23 compared to 2021-22.  

Unfortunately, healthcare is often one of the first things to go when household budgets are tight. We know from our 2023 Report to the Nation that the cost-of-living crisis has significantly impacted mental health.  

The Report on Government Services data also indicates a 4 per cent decline in the number of Better Access therapy sessions claimed in 2022-23 compared to 2021-22. Broader trends in this report show the proportion of new clients accessing MBS subsidised mental health services has continued to decline over the last decade, from 36 per cent in 2013-14, to 26 per cent in 2022-23.

Ongoing inequities in access to primary mental health care mean people in lower socioeconomic areas or regional areas continue to have lower access to MBS subsidised mental health services, and higher use of state and territory public mental health services than others in the population. First Nations people also have disproportionately higher use of emergency mental health services – a trend that is also reflected in the Review of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap released last week, which similarly points to failures in meeting the needs of First Nations communities and addressing entrenched inequality. 
 
Fortunately, the Report on Government Services also shows that there are encouraging signs of progress in some areas – there has been a significant increase in the proportion of people aged 16 to 64 living with mental illness who are employed (from 64 per cent in 2017-18 up to 72 percent in 2022), along with a reduction in the proportion of people with mental illness reporting experiencing discrimination (from 29 per cent in 2014 down to 21 per cent in 2020). This progress reflects the committed work of many advocates and leaders in the sector. 

The insights that we can draw from the Report on Government Services data highlights the importance of us collectively having access to robust and meaningful data, to underpin our mental health policies and systems. As we outlined in our recent pre-budget submission, we are calling for the National Mental Health Commission’s remit to be refocused on mental health system monitoring and reporting. This will help to ensure that the current gaps in data can be addressed, we can have better accountability mechanisms in place, and most importantly, we can continue to evolve and improve our mental health system, as we learn more about what’s working, what needs to be improved, and who is missing out.
 
Carolyn Nikoloski 
CEO, Mental Health Australia 

The diary next week

• On Thursday I am attending a KPMG-hosted Mental Health Roundtable focused on digital and AI and then presenting to the COVID-19 Response Inquiry Taskforce
• On Tuesday I have a meeting of the Preventative Mental Health Symposium Committee
• On Wednesday I am meeting with the Department of Health and Aged Care and NACCHO

Young Australians are still struggling

A new report into the mental wellbeing of Australia’s youth, written by the University of Adelaide, has shown young people across the country are struggling with their resilience and mental health. The finding was published in the 2023 State of the Nation Report, with data collected from the annual Resilient Youth Australia Resilience Survey of around 140,000 students in Grades 3-12, across every state and territory. Responses showed 27.4 per cent of primary school students and 35.9 per cent of secondary school students report high levels of anxiety, depression, or both.

HILDA data shows psychological distress rising, loneliness highest amongst young people

The University of Melbourne say younger Australians are experiencing higher psychological distress and more loneliness compared to older age groups, according to the latest HILDA data. While distress and loneliness were more common during the pandemic, researchers are concerned about the long-term trends.

Youth mental health in worst shape ever because of climate and housing crises

Australian Greens Youth Spokesperson, Stephen Bates, says new data from the 2021 Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia report has shown youth mental health at the worst since tracking began - with the prevalence of psychological distress among people under 35 doubling in a decade to nearly 40%.

Implement the Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Declaration to progress Closing the Gap

Following last Wednesday’s release of the Productivity Commission’s Review of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia is calling for urgent implementation of the Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Declaration within Australia’s mental health system.

Next steps on Closing the Gap: delivering remote jobs

The Albanese Government yesterday announced a new Remote Jobs and Economic Development Program (RJED) that will help close the gap in employment outcomes by creating 3,000 jobs in remote Australia.

9 in 10 psychiatrists say workforce shortages are risking patient care in Australia

An alarming report from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) has found 9 in 10 (93%) Australian psychiatrists believe the current workforce crisis negatively impacts patient care.

Butterfly launches Eating Disorder Peer Workforce Guidelines

Butterfly is pleased to announce the launch of the first national Eating Disorder Peer Workforce Guidelines.

The aim of the guidelines is to remove barriers to help eating disorder peer support reach its full potential in Australia and improve outcomes for those living with an eating disorder and their carers, through providing guiding principles for eating disorder peer work and clarify minimum education and training standard.

New Aboriginal youth mental health campaign

WA Mental Health Minister, Amber-Jade Sanderson, says the Cook Government is helping young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to maintain a ‘strong inner spirit’ with its new campaign ‘Stronger You, Stronger Mob’. The campaign aims to support the social and emotional wellbeing of young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 12 to 25 years across Western Australia, and to help prevent the use of alcohol and other drugs.

Top End to receive new healing and recovery service for suicide prevention

NT Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Selena Uibo, said as part of the Territory Labor Government’s plan to reduce the Northern Territory’s suicide rate and improve the health and wellbeing of Territorians, the Territory Government and the Northern Territory Primary Health Network (NT PHN) are investing $3.3 million in Danila Dilba Health Service’s (DDHS) new Darwin Healing and Recovery Service. 

Taskforce launched on ACT Chief Psychiatrist’s review into complex mental health care

ACT Attorney-General Shane Rattenbury said the ACT Government announced a cross-government taskforce to respond to the recommendations of the Chief Psychiatrist’s review into the care, treatment and support for people deemed not guilty because of mental impairment and released into the care of mental health services.

Homes for Queenslanders: New support centre for youth at-risk of homelessness

Housing Minister, Meaghan Scanlon, says a new one-stop-shop will provide support for young people in need as part of the government’s new long-term housing plan Homes for Queenslanders. The Miles Government is partnering with the Brisbane Youth Service (BYS) to establish a youth support centre, purchasing a four-storey commercial office building in Fortitude Valley that will be transformed into a dedicated space for young people to receive housing support.

Victorian Premier makes Parliamentary Apology 

On Thursday 8 February, the Premier of Victoria formally apologised to Victorians who experienced historical abuse and neglect as children in institutional care. Before 1990, more than 90,000 children were placed in institutional care in Victoria.

Improving emergency department care for suicidal teens and their families

Youth suicide is a growing problem in Australia. There is increasing recognition that brief interventions and strategies may be an important aspect of a comprehensive treatment strategy.

In a joint project between Deakin University and Monash Health, their teams are conducting research to develop a new intervention to support young people who present to the emergency department at risk of suicide, and their parents.

One part of the intervention will be a series of text messages to support young people and their parents in the days and weeks after they are discharged from the emergency department (ED).

To do this, they are looking for parents/carers of a young person who presented to an ED for suicide-related concerns when the young person was aged 12-18, to complete a brief survey. Participants will also have the opportunity to participate in a follow-up interview.

If you are in this group, or know others in this group, please complete this survey or advertise to your networks.

Preventive Mental Health Symposium - 10% discount on registration and sponsorship opportunities

The Public Health Association of Australia, in Partnership with Beyond Blue present the Preventive Mental Health Symposium to be held on Tuesday 12 March 2024 at the Pullman Albert Park, Melbourne.

The symposium will be held as a hybrid event which will include in-person and online attendance and will include a mix of keynote speakers and panel discussions.

Discounted registration available until Wednesday 21 February.

Sponsorship opportunities are also available and offer a strategic opportunity to demonstrate the support your organisation gives to preventive mental health and to associate your brand with thought leadership, sector networking and partnership development.

Free THRIVE training for mentally healthy employment

Neami National’s THRIVE program provides free online training to help job seekers experiencing mental health challenges and/or psychosocial disability understand how to find and maintain work. The codesigned program consists of free self-paced, online learning modules covering a range of employment topics.

Participants are supported by Peer Coaches along the entire THRIVE journey and can also sign up for specialised workshops facilitated by lived experience coaches.

The learning modules, workshops and coaching sessions guide THRIVE participants through uncovering their strengths and seeking and maintaining employment that fits their personality, values, passions and unique mental health needs.

The program also provides opportunities to connect with others who have experienced similar employment challenges. THRIVE is open to people aged 18-65 whose experience of employment has been impacted by personal mental health challenges and/or psychosocial disability.

Enrolment is now open in WA, VIC, SA, QLD and NSW. 

blueknot Trauma Informed Diversity Awareness Masterclass

This experiential one-day professional development training goes beyond ‘standard’ LGBTIQ diversity training. This masterclass fosters the knowledge and skills to work competently and confidently with transgender people accessing therapeutic and other services. It explores the intersectionality of complex trauma, discrimination, and minority stress to build understanding on how these factors impact the health of transgender people.

Invite to Register – Mental Health for CMOs Webinar

Join a webinar to find out how the community sector can implement the National Safety and Quality Mental Health Standards for Community Managed Organisations (NSQMHCMO Standards).

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care is releasing a range of practical resources to support CMO service providers, consumers and carers, and accrediting agencies to implement the NSQMHCMO Standards.

Accreditation to the NSQMHCMO Standards begins 1 July 2024.

Click the button to register to find out about what the Standards mean for you and how you can prepare for the accreditation process.

When: Thursday 22 February, 12:00pm – 12:30pm AEDT

Sector-led consortium opportunity is available on AusTender

The Department is undertaking a competitive tender process to commission an Australian mental health service provider, or a group of service providers led by a single provider (with extensive experience in the design and/or delivery of digital mental health service) to work directly with help seekers, carers, and their support networks to co-design a connected and fit for purpose approach to modernising Australia’s mental health service navigation. The focus will be on augmenting existing help seeker awareness and enhancing the user experience through improvements in navigation to digital resources, low intensity services and online evidence-based treatment and support programs, tools, and services in the first instance. This work will build on previous engagement and consultation with the mental health sector, and align with relevant policy frameworks, such as the National Digital Mental Health Framework.

Scope of Practice Review

The first issues paper for the Scope of Practice Review has been released, and responses from the sector are sought by 8 March.

This independent Review focuses on health professionals who currently provide or have the potential to provide primary care, and explores the available evidence of the benefits, risks, barriers and enablers associated with health practitioners working to their full scope of practice. 

Gaining the views of as many people as possible, representing the broadest span of professions and public perspectives, is essential to the success of this review.

BEING launches longitudinal survey into human rights

BEING, the NSW peak body for mental health consumers, is undertaking a survey to find out where and how your human rights may have been breached in the last 12 months.

By tracking data over multiple years they will shine a spotlight on the progress NSW is or isn’t making in meeting the human rights obligations agreed by Australia at a national level and use that information to advocate for positive change.

The survey should take a maximum of 7 minutes to complete.

Email info@being.org.au for further information.