Commissioner's Update
Welcome
On behalf of all 1,100 subscribers, may I extend a warm welcome to the Minister for Health, Cameron Dick MP. It is pleasing to see the focus on health promotion in the Government’s election platform. Better physical and oral health of people living with mental health and drug and alcohol problems is one of the outcomes sought in the Queensland Mental Health, Drug and Alcohol Strategic Plan 2014-2019.
...and congratulations!
To Michael Burge OAM who graduated from the National Mental Health Commission's Leaders Project in Sydney on 18 February 2015. Michael said it was “by far the most rewarding, inspiring and educational experience” of the numerous leadership activities he has been involved in. Read more about the National Future Leaders in Mental Health leadership and development program here
Reports highlight treatment costs
Two recent reports highlight that despite increases in resources and services much remains to be done.
According to the recent Report on Government Services, Government spending per person on mental health has increased over time from $249 per person in 2005-06 to $317 per person in 2012-13.
At the same time, a report by Adults Surviving Child Abuse (ASCA), The Cost of Unresolved Childhood Trauma and Abuse in A dults in Australia found the average annual cost per affected person for depression, obesity, suicide or attempted suicide and problem alcohol use attributable from childhood trauma was $6458. Read the report here
The year ahead
This year the focus of the Commission will move from establishing a vision for the future to working with our partners to identify more specific actions to make that future a reality.
What we are aim to achieve is a healthy and inclusive community, where people experiencing mental health difficulties or issues related to substance use have a life with purpose and access to quality care and support focused on wellness and recovery, in an understanding, empathic and compassionate society.
Our priority projects are outlined below and you’ll hear more about each as the year progresses.
Beaudesert visit
It is shaping to be a productive and positive year. I enjoyed my first regional visit for the year to the Scenic Rim Caring for our Community - Improving Mental Health and Wellbeing Forum in Beaudesert on 25 Feburary 2015. Read about it here
A&NZ Mental Health Commissioners meet
On 16 February, I hosted a meeting of leaders of seven existing or developing Mental Health Commissions in Australia and New Zealand to explore areas of shared interest and collaboration.
Representatives were pleased to see the announcement from the Australian Government that funding would continue for another year for the Personal Helpers and Mentors and Mental Health Respite: Carer Support programs, but call on the Government to release the National Mental Health Commission’s Review of Mental Health Programmes and Services.
We are all concerned about the lack of clarity for continued support for people who are found not to be eligible for the National Disability Insurance Scheme. I am pleased to note however that the focus on psychosocial disability is strengthening and hope that the trial site proposed by the State Government will assist Queenslanders to better understand how our current service providers can reconfigure their work to remain responsive to consumers with mental health problems as the NDIS is rolled out.
Advisory Council
The Queensland Mental Health, Drug and Alcohol Advisory Council met on 13 February to outline its focus areas for 2015.
The Council agreed to focus on four policy areas this year and to ensure that all their deliberations take into account greater engagement of people with lived experience, their families and carers and the issues for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
The April meeting will focus on drug and alchohol issues and the following meeting will consider systemic issues for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing.
Read the Council’s Communiqué here
Watch this space!
QMHC work program 2015
2015 promises to be very busy in terms of driving ongoing reform in the mental health, drug and alcohol sector. A snapshot of projects that flow on from the Queensland Mental Health, Drug and Alcohol Strategic Plan 2014-2019 to be delivered this calendar year include:
- Drug and Alcohol Action Plan. The Commission has contracted Siggins Miller to start the Action Plan’s development, in consultation with key stakeholders.
- Suicide Prevention Action Plan. Consultations will kick off in March to develop a Suicide Prevention Action Plan and we are working with a local group to develop a specific project to help prevent suicide among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
- Awareness, Prevention and Early Intervention Action Plan. Work will commence with a week of forums involving the sector in mid-April with internationally-recognised expert Gregor Henderson who will focus on international thinking around starting well, living well, working well and ageing well. Opportunities to be involved will be out soon.
- Rural and Remote Action Plan. Considerable work was done through a series of Ministerial Roundtables in 2014 to identify the gaps and issues. This will be brought together in an action plan to be released later this year.
The intent of this work is to focus on driving action and meaningful change, to achieve better outcomes for Queenslanders.
We will be re-doubling our efforts towards engaging with and hearing the experiences of consumers, families and carers — ultimately the people who the mental health, drug and alcohol system is there to serve.
Congratulations grant recipients
QMHC is pleased to announce the recipients of our Stronger Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Grants Program which distributed over 500,000 dollars across the State.
The Grants Program comprised three categories of funding and received over 100 applications from throughout Queensland addressing a wide range of issues and service needs.
The Commission has offered grant funding for 18 projects or activities and supported 30 people to attend Wheel of Wellbeing Training in Brisbane.
Full details of grant recipients are listed here
We look forward to seeing the fruits of the many excellent projects put forward for grants and anticipate further grant announcements later in 2015.
Restrictive practices
Restrictive practices continue to be a topic of discussion following the release of the Commission’s report Options for Reform: Moving towards a more recovery-oriented, least restrictive approach in December 2014.
QMHC maintains that wards shouldn’t be locked all the time as a standard procedure, and that locking or unlocking doors should be a local and discretionary decision for each ward, depending on the needs of consumers and circumstances at the time. Any such decision must be supported by clear criteria, explained to consumers and reviewed in a timely manner.
The Commissioner recently met with the Executive of the Queensland Branch of the RANZCP which supports the Commission's position. Finding ways to support services to reduce absences without leave will continue to be part of the Commission's considerations over the next 12 months.
Further reading
The QUT Law Review paper Rethinking Restrictive Practices: A Comparative Analysis by Chandler, Willmott and White.
Rural service integration explored
The Queensland Mental Health Commission has engaged CheckUP to lead a project looking at service integration and referral mapping in the North West, Central West and South West Hospital and Health Service regions.
The project aims to find out the extent support services for people living with problematic substance use or mental health difficulties are integrated in the three regions.
It will also find out what service providers think are the barriers to service integration, as well as the things that boost it.
Service providers in the region are encouraged to get involved and be heard. Read more about the Commission’s project here
Give your feedback
The Commission wants your views on the activities and work it produces – take five to tell us your thoughts here
Sector news
Resources
- Clearing the Cloud — is a new website with a range of evidence-based prevention and treatment programs for substance use and mental health problems created by the NHMRD Centre of Research Excellence in Mental Health and Substance Use. Prevention programs include prevention, health and wellbeing for school students. Click here
- Introducing Hearing Voices Queensland, a newly established organisation that seeks to build a network of support groups across the State. Hearing Voices hopes to provide advocacy, awareness, information and education for voice hearers, carers and the general community. Contact Hearing Voices here
- The launch of the Hearing Voices Qld network is accompanied by a series of workshops around the State by Dr Rufus May, focused on mental health support and recovery. More info here
- Mi Networks — Mi Networks is a national mental health information and referral service, connecting individuals to an experienced mental health worker who can respond to questions or requests for information and connect people to a broad range of services in their local community. Find out more here
- Headspace has produced a powerful music video to encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people to talk about mental health and wellbeing. The Got a lot going on music video is part of the yarn safe youth campaign and was written and performed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people. It captures the broad range of issues they face, including racism, stress, drugs and isolation, but stresses there is 'no shame in talking it’. Watch here
- New Dovetail Youth Alcohol and Drug Good Practice Guide released, Learning from Each Other — Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Young People. Get the Guide here
- Choice and Medication by Queensland Health — This webpage provides information in relation to psychotropic medications to consumers and/or carers receiving health care from Queensland Health. Psychotropic medications refer to medications associated with the treatment of mental health problems. Click here
- Alcohol and other drugs education program — The Department of Education and Training has a new alcohol and other drugs education program for Year 7-12 students as part of the Safe Night Out Strategy. Check it out here
- The Cost of Unresolved Childhood Trauma and Abuse in Adults in Australia report by Adults Surviving Child Abuse (ASCA). Read it here
- Mind the Bump App — New and expecting parents are encouraged to keep calm and carry on mindfully with the new Mind the Bump App. Get yours here
- Beyondblue has a new booklet to help show older Australians how to connect with their community, ward off loneliness and increase their protection against depression and anxiety. Download it here
- Black Dog Institute’s eMHPrac Webinars provide evidence-based online resources for GPs to incorporate into their patient care. Read more here
- Our National Voice is a website devoted to telling the personal stories of mental health carers and family members. Visit their website here
Events
- 18 March 2015 — The SANE Mental Illness and Bereavement Workshop, Brisbane explores how health professionals can better support the family and friends of people with mental illness who have died by suicide, exploring issues that may arise during this process. Book here
- 21 March 2015 — CheckUp’s Mental Health Skills Training, South Brisbane. Register here
- 2015 — See Dovetail’s Insight Training and Education Calendar for 2015 here
- 8-27 April 2015 — Dr Rufus May ‘Living and Working with Voices’ Workshops around Queensland. Register here
Survey
- The Alcohol Harm Prevention Service (AHPS) is a new project within Lives Lived Well, a Queensland alcohol and drug support organisation focused on helping Queensland communities develop preventative strategies to address issues surrounding alcohol-related harms. Please complete their community survey to tell them what you see happening in your community. Closes: Saturday 28 February.
