Over a year ago the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission identified the need for a national anti-stigma campaign focusing on mental health. It was one of twelve recommendations made in relation to mental health, a recommendation supported by the Federal government.
Today, a State government has taken a real step towards implementing this recommendation, at least in Queensland.
In welcoming today’s announcement of an $8.5 million commitment to the new campaign, Mr David Crosbie, CEO of the Mental Health Council of Australia said; ‘the Queensland government is to be commended for taking this important step to reduce the level of discrimination experienced by people with a mental illness and their carers. We know that discrimination is one of the reasons people do not get the help they need or the support services that could make a real difference in their lives.’
Mr Crosbie pointed out that Australia has one of the lowest levels of workforce participation in the OECD for people with a mental illness. He linked this poor performance to stigma amongst employers and the community.
‘Many people in our community have a kind of extreme stereotype of how people with a mental illness behave. These negative stereotypes lead to people with a mental illness experiencing difficulty obtaining and maintaining housing, employment, recreational opportunities, and relationships. At the very least antistigma campaigns can show people with a mental illness in a more realistic and positive way.’
Many countries around the world have implemented anti-stigma campaigns often with real impact on community attitudes to people with a mental illness. Mr Crosbie said; ‘it is important we all recognise that how we react to someone with a mental illness plays a key role in the degree to which they are able to recover and play a valuable role in our community. These campaigns are about changing our reactions to enable people with a mental illness to be able to live their lives just like you and me.’
Media Contact: Simon Tatz on 0402 613 745 or 02 6285 3100
Source: The Mental Health Council of Australia (MHCA)
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Friday, June 11, 2010
$1.2 billion investment in mental health services to help the state’s most vulnerable
The Keneally Government will invest $1.231 billion in mental health services around the State, Minister Assisting on Health (Mental Health) Barbara Perry announced today.
The 2010-11 NSW Budget sees $21 million dedicated to mental health capital works.
Three more Psychiatric Emergency Care Centres (PECCs) are also due for completion. These are dedicated mental health treatment areas with specialist clinicians attached to major hospital emergency departments.
Ms Perry said completion of the three new PECCs – at Wollongong, Royal North Shore and Prince of Wales Hospitals – will bring the total number to 12 across the state... more
The 2010-11 NSW Budget sees $21 million dedicated to mental health capital works.
Three more Psychiatric Emergency Care Centres (PECCs) are also due for completion. These are dedicated mental health treatment areas with specialist clinicians attached to major hospital emergency departments.
Ms Perry said completion of the three new PECCs – at Wollongong, Royal North Shore and Prince of Wales Hospitals – will bring the total number to 12 across the state... more
Monday, May 17, 2010
Australian Rural Mental Health Symposium
New Perspectives on Rural and Remote Mental Health
• Policy initiatives
• Primary interventions
• Promoting recovery
• Preventing relapse
The symposium will explore new perspectives within the P4 parameters by way of individual symposium papers, keynote presentations, and workshops.
Using this template the Symposium streams will address;
• Trauma, anxiety, depression and suicide (policy, primary interventions, promoting recovery, preventing relapse).
• Service accessibility, delivery and networks in rural mental health
• Indigenous mental health issues, from policy to treatment delivery
• Community resilience following natural disasters
• Government policies and initiatives
• Building capacity through NGO and clinical partnerships
Visit the Symposium website here
No gold medals for government that neglects the mentally ill
Ian Hickie From: The Australian May 17, 2010 12:00AM
AUSTRALIA does not win gold medals for health care. In fact, the World Health Report ranks us at number 32, way below Britain and other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries.
We do poorly because of high out-of-pocket costs, a lack of equity and poor access, particularly in primary care, mental health and oral health.
Now it is clear the focus of the Rudd government's $7.3 billion new investments is refunding of our acute hospital networks, it is unlikely that we will be winning any gold medals in health in the near future.
In distinct contrast to the past 10 years of genuine reform in Britain and other European countries, very few substantial changes in the way we do business have been achieved.
We now have five layers of bureaucracy (national, state, local hospitals, private health and "Medicare local").
There are no mechanisms for greater competition between public or private insurers or public or private health professionals. Read the full story here.
AUSTRALIA does not win gold medals for health care. In fact, the World Health Report ranks us at number 32, way below Britain and other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries.
We do poorly because of high out-of-pocket costs, a lack of equity and poor access, particularly in primary care, mental health and oral health.
Now it is clear the focus of the Rudd government's $7.3 billion new investments is refunding of our acute hospital networks, it is unlikely that we will be winning any gold medals in health in the near future.
In distinct contrast to the past 10 years of genuine reform in Britain and other European countries, very few substantial changes in the way we do business have been achieved.
We now have five layers of bureaucracy (national, state, local hospitals, private health and "Medicare local").
There are no mechanisms for greater competition between public or private insurers or public or private health professionals. Read the full story here.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Budget 'fails to deliver' on mental health
ABC NEWS Updated Wed May 12, 2010 12:43am AEST
Doctors have welcomed the $7.3 billion in health spending announced in the federal budget but are concerned the areas of Indigenous and mental health were ignored.
Treasurer Wayne Swan says the funding, which will top $23 billion by the end of the decade, is needed as Australia's population grows and ages.
An extra $2.2 billion was included in the budget for health on top of the $5.1 billion the Government recently directed towards hospitals.
The money will be focused on areas of primary care, with more money for clinics and nurses to staff them.
AMA president Dr Andrew Pesce says overall, it was a pretty good night.
"We will wait to see how it pans out," he said. But he said the areas of mental and Indigenous health had not done as well.
"We all recognise the increasing burden of mental health problems in the community," he said.
"This budget fails to deliver on the expectations that people working in that part of the sector really have been working on."
Dr Pesce said it was also important to note the available workforce. "It may take some time for those extra places to come through," he said...read the full story.
Doctors have welcomed the $7.3 billion in health spending announced in the federal budget but are concerned the areas of Indigenous and mental health were ignored.
Treasurer Wayne Swan says the funding, which will top $23 billion by the end of the decade, is needed as Australia's population grows and ages.
An extra $2.2 billion was included in the budget for health on top of the $5.1 billion the Government recently directed towards hospitals.
The money will be focused on areas of primary care, with more money for clinics and nurses to staff them.
AMA president Dr Andrew Pesce says overall, it was a pretty good night.
"We will wait to see how it pans out," he said. But he said the areas of mental and Indigenous health had not done as well.
"We all recognise the increasing burden of mental health problems in the community," he said.
"This budget fails to deliver on the expectations that people working in that part of the sector really have been working on."
Dr Pesce said it was also important to note the available workforce. "It may take some time for those extra places to come through," he said...read the full story.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Plea made for mental health funding
Lanai Vasek From: The Australian May 01, 2010 12:00AM
A NATIONAL health body devoted solely to mental health research is desperately needed if Australia is to advance treatment of psychotic illnesses and relieve pressure on the hospital system.
Mental health researchers have pleaded with the federal government for more funding to ease the burden on hospital beds and lift stress on the health system from those with severe psychotic illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Director of the Centre for Mental Health Research at the Australian National University Helen Christensen said there should be strategic funds put aside for research into psychotic illnesses.
Professor Christensen said Australian scientists could "lead the world in research" if given the right support.
"If there's research, there's better treatment, and less weight on the system overall," she said.
Professor Christensen -- who is also a senior principal research fellow at the National Health and Medical Research Council -- said there needed to be a separate body, similar to the NHMRC, that could "strategically feed funding" to mental health organisations to ensure adequate investment.
"There needs to be some government leadership on this. . . mental health is just as important as breast cancer awareness and heart disease," she said.
Read the full article here
A NATIONAL health body devoted solely to mental health research is desperately needed if Australia is to advance treatment of psychotic illnesses and relieve pressure on the hospital system.
Mental health researchers have pleaded with the federal government for more funding to ease the burden on hospital beds and lift stress on the health system from those with severe psychotic illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Director of the Centre for Mental Health Research at the Australian National University Helen Christensen said there should be strategic funds put aside for research into psychotic illnesses.
Professor Christensen said Australian scientists could "lead the world in research" if given the right support.
"If there's research, there's better treatment, and less weight on the system overall," she said.
Professor Christensen -- who is also a senior principal research fellow at the National Health and Medical Research Council -- said there needed to be a separate body, similar to the NHMRC, that could "strategically feed funding" to mental health organisations to ensure adequate investment.
"There needs to be some government leadership on this. . . mental health is just as important as breast cancer awareness and heart disease," she said.
Read the full article here
Mental Health Discrimination Costs the Nation: New Report Launched
A national report was launched in Brisbane revealing how Australia can reduce the cost-burden of mental ill health on the nation.
Currently, the cost of mental ill health is estimated at 3%- 4% of Australia’s GDP.
The report, ‘From Discrimination to Social Inclusion: a review of the anti- stigma initiatives in mental health,’ presents the evidence from international anti- stigma mental health campaigns; and outlines recommendations for a similar Australian initiative.
Get the report here
Currently, the cost of mental ill health is estimated at 3%- 4% of Australia’s GDP.
The report, ‘From Discrimination to Social Inclusion: a review of the anti- stigma initiatives in mental health,’ presents the evidence from international anti- stigma mental health campaigns; and outlines recommendations for a similar Australian initiative.
Get the report here
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