Page 165 - Week 02 - Thursday, 25 May 1989
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MR BERRY (Minister for Community Services and Health) (11.15): I spoke at length on this matter this morning, and I support the motion which has been proposed by Mr Moore. I congratulate him on putting it before the Assembly because I think it is very important that the Assembly in its early days endorse the activities of those who arranged the release this morning of that very important booklet. I think we need also to recognise that the problem is not only confined to the ACT, but is a national problem. As I said this morning, there are 150,000 Australians who will suffer schizophrenia at some time in their lives. It is a national problem, and we need to be able to consult with our colleagues throughout the nation in recognition of the care, consideration and support that people who suffer with this disease will require.
In relation to the mental health issue in the ACT, I think the most important issue, which will follow my statement this morning, is the 24-hour crisis centre. But it is also important that the review of the Mental Health Ordinance is established and under way and, as I have said before, that will take place. All of the other issues I raised this morning go well with the motion which has been proposed by Mr Moore and once again I congratulate him on submitting it to the Assembly.
MR HUMPHRIES: (11.53) The Opposition warmly endorses this motion, and in particular commends the Government's decision to establish a 24-hour crisis centre. Having spoken to advocates of reform in the mental health area, I know that there are considerable needs in this area which I believe will be met, at least in part, by the establishment of a crisis centre such as this. I want to comment about the impact, not just on victims of mental health problems but also on those around them, the carers and families of people affected.
Schizophrenia is a somewhat dark disease, a disease not often spoken about frankly by those that suffer from it. That is a pity because I understand that it affects one in 100 people in Australia. In many respects it is easier for carers and family and friends of people to deal with such injuries as loss of limbs or cancer than it is to deal with a disease which affects the personality of the sufferer. That is what makes it such an exceptional and difficult problem. It requires an exceptional degree of dedication on the part of those around sufferers to cope. I hope that the establishment of the crisis centre referred to by the Government this morning will take some steps in the direction of helping those people to cope with the problem.
The point of Schizophrenia Awareness Week, of course, is to establish better education to raise people's awareness of this problem, and that is why it is such an important time. I think it demonstrates very clearly that the effects of the disease at least can be controlled or minimised if
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