Page 4367 - Week 12 - Tuesday, 13 October 2009
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The ACT government funded new initiatives to promote mental health and wellbeing in the 2008 financial year. One of those was the Marymead children’s circle of security program, which was provided to parents and care givers to support attachment in high risk families. Another was the Brindabella and Majura women’s groups, who do a fantastic job in targeting and supporting isolated and disadvantaged mums with young babies.
In the 2009-10 financial year more mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention initiatives were funded. These include $70,000 to expand the MIEACT program and $117,000 to expand the bungee program run by Belconnen Community Services. I think that is the one that might be out in Tuggeranong. Ms Porter mentioned earlier the supported hospital exit program which was launched recently. This provides a short-term support service aimed at addressing the problems people living with mental illness face during the transitional period from hospital back home to the community.
There was also $250,000 provided for supported accommodation and outreach for single men with mental health issues. This funding is targeted at men who have a mental illness, are at risk of homelessness and have experienced recent institutional care. The government has also funded the community sector mental health peak organisation $155,000 to undertake community sector development around workforce and outcome measurement.
Over the next two years the government will provide $200,000 each year for the expansion of the KidsMatter pilot. All primary schools in the ACT will be offered an opportunity to participate in this nationally recognised program. The funding will also enable MindMatters to be offered to all interested high schools. That was part of the Labor-Greens parliamentary agreement; I acknowledge that. Also in the Labor-Greens parliamentary agreement was money that has been budgeted for enhanced mental health training for emergency service workers, particularly focused on police and ambulance services. There were also some additional resources for the forensic in courts program.
Managing the risk of suicide, the new suicide prevention strategy also launched last week at the same event, takes a comprehensive and wide-ranging approach to the prevention of suicide in the ACT. It considers the biological, psychological, social and environmental factors influencing suicide, and aims to prevent suicide across the lifespan.
I am confident that the actions identified in these two documents will provide a strong foundation for improving the mental health and wellbeing of all ACT residents and that they will guide the provision of early interventions for those at risk of suicide and those experiencing mental illness.
I am also pleased to update the Assembly on the newly established Ministerial Advisory Council on Mental Health which held its inaugural meeting during Mental Health Week 2009. The role of the council is to provide independent high level advice and guidance to address mental health consumer and care issues, as well as mental health policies and services.
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