Leaked mental health report

[bluecat*dancing]

It will be interesting to read the full report when it is finally released and what, if, anything, the government intends to do about the recommendations

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-14/mental-health-services-report-recommends-funds-redirection/639...

A leaked report commissioned by the Federal Government recommends redirecting more than $1 billion in funding from acute hospital care to community-based mental health services.

In Opposition, the Coalition made a review of mental health services a priority and ordered the National Mental Health Commission to conduct a review when it assumed power in 2013.

Former health minister Peter Dutton received the document last November but the review is yet to be made public.
The ABC's 7.30 program has obtained part of the review, which says the current system is poorly planned and integrated and is a "massive drain on people's wellbeing".

It finds "major deficiencies in the response [received] by many of those seeking help for suicidal thinking, attempts or bereavement" and urges a "radical rethink of responses" to mentally ill people seeking help.

The commission found that there was substantial funding within the mental health system but that it was not distributed efficiently, effectively or fairly and it recommended redirecting money from hospital to community based care from 2017.

The recommendation attempts to address the systemic problem of a lack of support for mentally ill patients who are discharged from hospital after attempting suicide.

The commissioners found: "People commonly 'feel dropped' from the system, particularly after discharge from inpatient services at a point when they do not feel well enough to be out of hospital and where they have not received therapeutic intervention while in hospital."

[village_person]

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@bluecat*dancing wrote:

It will be interesting to read the full report when it is finally released and what, if, anything, the government intends to do about the recommendations

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-04-14/mental-health-services-report-recommends-funds-redirection/639...

A leaked report commissioned by the Federal Government recommends redirecting more than $1 billion in funding from acute hospital care to community-based mental health services.

[...]

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No need to bleed some money from the hospital system. If we need cash for AUSTRALIAN mental health services grab some of this:

Australia’s aid effort

Some facts about Australia’s aid program:

• Australia currently spends $5.03 billion dollars on foreign aid – that’s 0.32 per cent of our gross national income, or 32 cents in every $100

https://www.oxfam.org.au/explore/millennium-development-goals/campaign-for-australian-aid/australias...

[bluecat*dancing]

No, foreign aid needs to continue and, if anything , increased. It isn't an either or situation.The billion dollars has already been allocated to mental health but needs to be spent in areas that need it most. An increase in funding would be great.

[debra9275]

I think Blue, that too many are falling between the cracks, especially young people when it's community based. I don't know what the answer is though.

[fiestas*girl]

personally, i think we need to look after our ownmfirst,  then when we have a functioning system for hospitals and affiliated services...THEN we should open the coffers for others.

[village_person]

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@bluecat*dancing wrote:

No, foreign aid needs to continue and, if anything , increased. It isn't an either or situation.The billion dollars has already been allocated to mental health but needs to be spent in areas that need it most. An increase in funding would be great.

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So you're saying that this (and other projects):

ADB, Australia to Support Construction of New Bridge Across Mekong River

The TA is part of the Government of Australia's commitment to provide a AUD160 million ($171 million) grant to the Government of Viet Nam for the project, as announced by Australia's Prime Minister during her official visit to Viet Nam in October 2010.

Australia's grant contribution will help finance the engineering, design and construction supervision of the project, as well as provide a major contribution to the cost of building the Cao Lahn Bridge across the Mekong River in Dong Thap province.

http://www.adb.org/news/adb-australia-support-construction-new-bridge-across-mekong-river

Is MORE important than properly funding this:

The recommendation attempts to address the systemic problem of a lack of support for mentally ill patients who are discharged from hospital after attempting suicide.

I hope you don't expect me to take you seriously.

[tezza2844]

"Former health minister Peter Dutton received the document last November but the review is yet to be made public."

Don't panic, It's only six months and besides it may very well be an Operational Matter.

[bluecat*dancing]

No. Foreign aid is a separate topic and has nothing to do with funding for mental health - or any other funding. I really don't care if you take me seriously or not. What I do care about is mental health.

The lack of beds in psych wards/hospitals is dreadful and the post care is minimal and ineffective. The billion dollars would be better being allocated to outreach services etc. I recently looked for a local support group for those with mental illness and apart from one, which was based on the AA model, there was nothing.There were, however, a number of support groups for carers.

Having somewhere to go .24/7,where you can feel safe when you start to struggle would be helpful and perhaps would be a preventative when it comes to suicide. If you can change that thought pattern early enough, before the suicidal thoughts can take hold. But there is nothing like that available. So you go to hospital, if, you can, get admitted, if you're lucky, and it seems that 24 hours is all the time that you get these days, then, you are sent on your way.

Not good enough.