Missing In Action: 'Where Is The New National Mental Health Plan?' Asks SANE Australia

Main Category: Mental Health
Also Included In: Psychology / Psychiatry;  Bipolar;  Schizophrenia
Article Date: 02 Jan 2009 - 1:00 PDT

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Australians affected by mental illness are worried by repeated delays in producing a new National Mental Health Plan - SANE Australia calls for prompt action by the Rudd Government and COAG.

2008 is drawing to a close and the Rudd Government is now in its second year in office, yet there is still no new national plan for mental health services, despite widespread acceptance of the urgent need. 'It is people with a mental illness who suffer the greatest social exclusion of all,' acknowledged Senator Ursula Stephens, Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion recently.

Tens of billions of dollars have been allocated in the past year to health and welfare services by the Rudd Government and COAG, these initiatives are much needed and welcome. While there has been commitment to reform by Health Minister, Nicola Roxon, including formation of a National Advisory Council and consultations on a new Mental Health Plan, there is no indication of when it will be ready and the shape it will take.

'The Government's energy in beginning to tackle other areas of social inclusion such as homelessness is highly commendable,' says Barbara Hocking, Executive Director of SANE Australia, 'but this only highlights the fact that improving mental health services does not seem to be at the top of anyone's priority list.'

'Recent announcements that the plan would be the subject of further negotiations - to eliminate gaps and duplications between State and federal governments - without a firm timeline, gives clear and worrying signals of further indefinite delays.

'Australians affected by mental illness and their families are disappointed and concerned that action has not yet been taken in this area, where reform and investment are so urgently needed. How much longer do they have to wait?' Ms Hocking said.

SANE Australia calls on the Government to urgently prioritise the new National Mental Health Plan, and to announce as soon as possible when this will be made public and implementation will finally begin.

For more information on mental illness and related issues, visit http://www.sane.org

Source
Cathy Heycock
http://www.sane.org