 www.bettermentalhealth.org.au has been set up as part of a staff and community campaign to improve mental health services in Victoria. The fact is one in five Victorians at some stage in their lives will suffer from a mental illness.
But there are not the acute care or community services to cope with the growing demand. There are critical shortages of psychiatric nurses and other health professionals, a lack of beds and community care options.
The fact is over half the people who need treatment in Victoria don’t get it. Find out more.
We want to make sure: - Victoria has adequately resourced and funded mental health services
- All people suffering a mental illness get the treatment and care they need to recover.
- There are enough psychiatric nurses and healthcare professionals to provide appropriate levels of care in safe and secure work environments.
Go to the website now: www.bettermentalhealth.org.au
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Earlier in the year, the Minister for Mental Health, Lisa Neville, announced a review of the Mental Health Act 1986. HACSU's submission can now be downloaded. The associated consultation paper can be downloaded from here: www.health.vic.gov.au/mentalhealth/mhactreview.
HACSU's submission can be downloaded here: www.bettermentalhealth.org.au/review/Mental Health Act Review HACSU Submission.pdf
The legislation is expected to enter Parliament in early 2010.
This paper will examines possible ways to strengthen or improve:- the Act’s role in promoting recovery
- patient participation in treatment and care
- decisions, including placing patients at the heart of the Act
- the existing rights-based approach to involuntary treatment and care
- the effectiveness and accessibility of mechanisms to oversee treatment and care
- the Act’s responsiveness to the needs of families and carers.
HACSU's submission focuses on two key areas:- The impact of any proposed changes to the Act on members’ clinical practice and capacity to treat clients.
- The impact of any changes on workforce requirements, including workload, administration and training provisions.
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Earlier in the year, the Minister for Mental Health, Lisa Neville, announced a review of the Mental Health Act 1986. The Minister has now released the associated consultation paper. You can download the consultation paper here: www.health.vic.gov.au/mentalhealth/mhactreview. The Victorian government is seeking input from patients, carers, mental health practitioners, other stakeholder groups and the broader community. HACSU will be putting in a submission to the review in support of members.
Submissions are due Friday 27th February 2009. The legislation is expected to enter Parliament in early 2010.
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