September 2004

Group to advise on mental health

Victorian mental health bodies now have top-level input into $650 million in State funding.

Health Minister Bronwyn Pike said a new Ministerial Advisory Committee on Mental Health would build direct links to peak consumer and carer bodies and related networks to ensure better decision-making around mental health spending.

Chaired by Network for Carers of People with a Mental Illness President John McGrath, the 21-strong committee will represent colleagues at the mental health coalface and advise the Health Minister on key issues.

‘The committee represents those who deal with the system on a day-to-day basis–consumers, carers, GPs, academics, the non-government mental health sector and related areas such as drug treatment, housing, welfare and youth services,’ Ms Pike said.

‘Having such diverse talent on tap will provide insights into evolving trends and encourage innovative strategies to manage priority issues.’

Ms Pike said one such priority involved people with a mental illness who abused drugs or alcohol.

‘Dual-diagnosis clients are one of the most significant groups at risk of relapse or readmission, as well as self-harm,’ she said.

‘They make up 45 per cent of new mental health clients.

‘The committee will address a need for better coordination between mental health and drug and alcohol services to improve access and develop innovative models of integrated service delivery.

‘It will also advise on proposals for major initiatives and priorities for capital and service planning.’

Ms Pike said improving service structures and partnerships was another priority for the committee.

‘Mental health area catchments sometimes constrain access beyond local boundaries, limit choice and lead to service inefficiencies.

‘Clustering of catchments, especially for specialist high-cost services and activities, is one option,’ Ms Pike said.

The Government will provide some $650 million for mental health in 2004/05.

‘This funding through the Human Services Department is nearly 5.7 per cent more than last year.

‘We have provided $198 million in additional recurrent funding to mental health since 1999/2000, an overall increase of 30 per cent,’ Ms Pike said.

The Ministerial Advisory Committee on Mental Health, chaired by John McGrath, comprises:

Carers Network vice-president Judith Player, consumer Wayne Chamley, Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council chair Amanda Noseda, Peninsula Health senior nurse Barbara Keeble-Devlin, Prahran Mission executive director Joan Clarke, Mental Illness Fellowship CEO Liz Crowther, Sue West of the Victorian Foundation for Survivors of Torture, David Murray of the Youth Substance Abuse Service, Bernie Geary of St Vincent de Paul homeless and welfare services, Jane Barnes of the Salvation Army homeless and welfare services, Fiona Judd of the Centre for Mental Health in Bendigo, Cato Professor of Psychiatry at Melbourne University Bruce Singh, Barwon Health adult clinical director Tom Callaly, Kingston Centre director of psychogeriatrics Daniel O’Connor, Maroondah Hospital director of child psychiatry Peter Birleson, Orygen executive director Pat McGorry, North Western Mental Health director Chris Gibbs, Grampians Mental Health area manager Ken Burnett, RANZCP Victorian branch chair Graham Burrows and Julie Thompson of the General Practice Division of Victoria.