Page 4365 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 13 October 2009
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These frameworks articulate this government’s commitment to the promotion of mental health and wellbeing, the prevention of mental illness and suicide, and the provision of early intervention for those experiencing mental illness. The frameworks will serve to guide practice that will increase resilience and reduce vulnerability as well as improve responses to those at risk and support for carers and bereaved families.
The ACT has led the way nationally in developing the first whole of government mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention framework. The framework is a successor to the previous ACT action plan for mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention 2006-2008, which was the first for any state or territory in Australia.
Mental health and wellbeing are affected by many factors outside of the health portfolio including housing, education and employment. The new frameworks reflect the important work that all sectors of the community are undertaking in this area, and promote strong linkages and partnerships with other agencies including those within government.
In recognition of the need for community based support and care for carers and consumers, this government works in partnership with numerous community organisations. Such organisations provide essential support in the community to promote mental health and wellbeing and also to provide advocacy. The commitment to 27 community organisations exceeds $10 million per annum, with the ACT being the leading jurisdiction with the highest percentage of funding to the community and mental health sector, at 7.3 per cent above the national average.
The 2009-2010 budget allocations included an additional $14.5 million for community mental health to continue over the next four years, and 50 per cent of this, or $7.2 million, was allocated to community sector organisations. This commitment will continue to be expanded to enable capacity building in all areas of mental health care delivery. As I said before, there is always more work that we can do. In addition, the 2009-2010 commitments included over $4.6 million for community organisations to provide supported accommodation and respite care services.
As I said, a new budget initiative was launched during Mental Health Week 2009, which was the supported hospital exit program, known simply as SHEP. This program goes beyond the traditional outreach support services to reduce the risks associated with making the transition from hospital to home for someone living with a mental illness. This new program stands beside a number of recent new programs, such as the youth step up, step down facility which opened its doors in March. I am pleased to say that this style of care has been extended to adults, with the new adult step up, step down facility opening in January this year as a fulfilment of this government’s previous commitments.
The supported hospital education program is a critical program in that unless people get support, as I said before, once they leave hospital they can very well end up homeless or back in hospital in a more serious condition. The worst-case scenario, of course, is the danger that people may in fact commit suicide or attempt suicide. So we
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