Footprints Community’s Post

🌿 Strengthening community-based mental health support 🌿 This week, Queensland’s Assistant Minister for Mental Health, Donna Kirkland, visited Gladstone Medicare Mental Health Centre, now in its permanent home. Funded by the Australian Government through the PHN Program, this centre is one of the four MMHCs free, walk-in mental health services in our region. Across Central Queensland, Wide Bay, and the Sunshine Coast, mental health, suicide, and substance use disorder rates exceed state and national averages, placing growing pressure on families, carers, and healthcare services. At the same time, workforce shortages, system pressures, and access barriers—especially in rural and remote communities—make timely support more difficult to navigate. As the Primary Health Network, we are committed to commissioning and managing these much-needed services to ensure high-quality, locally responsive care. Centres like this help break down access barriers—no referral, no Medicare card, just walk in. Thank you to Wellways Australia and Clarity Health Care for delivering this important service and to the Assistant Minister for her engagement on this national initiative. #c2coastqld #primarycare #MentalHealthCare #CommunityWellbeing #MedicareMentalHealthCentre #PrimaryCare #SuicidePrevention #MentalHealthMatters #HealthEquity #Gladstone Photo: Assistant Minister for Mental Health, Mrs Donna Kirkland (second from left) is welcomed by Wellways Peer Wellbeing Navigators Kylie Robertson, Martina Ramsden, and Melissa Cook, to the new Gladstone Medicare Mental Health Centre.

Reading Simon Katterl’s analysis here (thank you🙏), it landed in my body that the there’s a design flaw in these most recent reforms - the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Heath System - accountability (or lack thereof). And thank you also Kerry Hawkins 🙏 for the work we’ve been doing together on systems change & dialogue. Given the preference for systems to return to homeostasis (their own “baseline”), many of us are still pondering together what is actually needed. Essentially, the publicly funded mental health system has been tasked with reforming itself, and holding itself accountable (it seems it’d rather continue to flatter itself for its eternal benevolence - just read the Government’s website and emails. I so often want to cry “bravo! We are meeting all the targets! Pravda/Praise be!”) There are undeniably pockets of genuine, deep reckoning (I’ve seen some truly wonderful humans doing things differently), but there’s an absence of overarching structures for accountability in systems transformation. The contrast with Yoorook is literally breathtaking - I’m humbled that Yoorook asked about the demise of the Independent Panel reviewing mental health law and thus the unfinished work of decentring compulsory treatment in mental health law and structurally enabling supported decision making (and, again, thank you Kerry Hawkins for sharing the Yoorook transcript with me). It made me cry, profound grief, seeing what structures of deep accountability and commitment could look like, and realising the betrayal trauma so many of us are feeling, the contrast between what was acknowledged (that the system is “catastrophically failing” us) and the apparent, widespread shift in gears towards “well we’ve changed some things, what more do you want?!” In all honesty (and this may appear very tangential), it reminds me of Justice Brennan’s judgement in the Mabo case*. He noted that while he could overturn the doctrine of Terra Nullius, he couldn’t go further as the whole foundation of his legitimacy (as a High Court Judge) was founded in the legal system that Terra Nullius gave rise to. Personally, I want to overthrow clinical supremacy - the bizarre notion that the best way to respond to human distress and extreme states is to send individuals to experts trained in narrow models, often locking us up, and coercing us to believe the clinical stories about us. My spirit yearns for other possibilities. Anyways, thank you Simon for your tireless work, and all the others seeking deeper change. Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens … *I wrote a law exam on Brennan’s judgment in Mabo and topped the class and got a fancy prize and my essay was placed in the law library at Melb Uni for years … so while I probably sound like a legal dabbler to some ears, I hold my ground when challenged by those who think “who the hell is she to talk about law?!? Stay in your lane and let the real grown ups run these systems!” 😂)

I will have more to say in an opinion piece in the next week in the Age, but this from Kieran Rooney and Broede Carmody tells a chilling tale about broken promises. 𝑯𝒐𝒘 𝒎𝒂𝒏𝒚 times have we heard that the Victorian Government would uphold all 74 recommendations from the Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System? Certainly more than 74 times. This was the standard they brought to an election. The one they wanted to be marked against. They have failed and not only have they failed, they sought to cover up their failure. The story by Kieran and Broede reveals that the Department of Health has changed the website to remove any reference to the Regional Boards and instead stopping at the regional bodies, which are powerless. To be clear, the Department has gone in and removed from the section "What the Royal Commission said"....what the Royal Commission said. It's one thing to break promises. It's another to lie about what they were in the first place. 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐁𝐨𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐞𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡: 💠 Connect with local communities to understand and represent their service needs 💠 Co-commissioning (purchasing) services based on local community needs 💠 Intervene in services, through their powers, to require improvements. With the underperformance of other bodies, we now have little oversight of both the reforms and the government's implementation. It is now clear that we need an inquiry into the government's handling of the Royal Commission recommendations. The Inquiry should either occur via a Parliamentary Inquiry, or the Parliament should refer the inquiry to the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission who should develop the integrity to take it up. Make no mistake, the fact that everyone in the sector is doing this work is an indictment on the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission who is tasked with this exact job of government accountability. Who else agrees with the need for an inquiry into these reforms? Please share this article with your own reflections. Terry Laidler The ALIVE National Centre Carolyn Nikoloski National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Forum (NMHCCF) VMIAC Louise Byrne Natasha (Tash) Swingler Kevin Bell Beth Dunlop Dr Graham Pringle Ricki Spencer Nerita Waight Charlotte Jones Leanna Azoury Tom Dalton Pete Warden Dan Lubman AM Clare Davies https://lnkd.in/greHECxw

Share your experiences of finding and accessing mental health care in Australia and help to shape a better future.   Contribute to a mental health system that better serves our community’s needs by sharing your experiences finding and accessing mental health care in Australia. This survey is intended for all professionals and front-line workers who have helped people find support for their mental health concerns, including clinicians, helpline staff, peer workers, teachers, university staff, HR and workplace staff, EAP, insurance claims officers, social workers, occupational therapists and other allied health professionals, etc.    If you have supported someone to find or access care, or work in the mental health sector, we'd love to hear from you.   This survey is being conducted as part of a project commissioned by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care to develop options to support people finding and accessing mental health care.   The project is being delivered by SANE alongside a consortium of 14 organisations including: Nous Group, The University of Melbourne, yourtown / Kids Helpline, LGBTIQ+ Health, Flourish, One Door, Community Mental Health Australia, Orygen, Lived Experience Australia, Thirrili, The Butterfly Foundation, Outcome Health, Phoenix and the Victorian Collaborative Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing. Find out more about the digital navigation project here: https://lnkd.in/geNDZcxT   Complete the survey at: https://lnkd.in/gVHd4SwA   #MentalHealth #DigitalNav #CoDesign #Consortium #CommunityEngagement #Support #livedexperience #MHCarers

Important to respond to this survey to improve how we support people navigate the system during times of distress.

We are proud to support many first responder organizations across Ontario who have taken proactive steps to address the mental health challenges faced by their people. At Mental Health Innovations Consulting, we understand the unique pressures and stresses that public safety personnel face every day, which is why we’ve developed specialized models and solutions tailored to their specific needs. Today, we are pleased to see the Ontario government expanding its mental health supports for these dedicated individuals. The additional funding and resources announced in this new initiative will be a critical layer of support for those who serve and protect communities across the province. “This investment builds on our work through the Roadmap to Wellness to enhance access to mental health services and ensure that our first responders can connect to targeted and compassionate supports, where and when they need it most.” - Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health We remain committed to partnering with organizations on the front lines, helping ensure that the mental well-being their people is prioritized and supported. Together, we can make a lasting impact. Read more about this important announcement here: https://lnkd.in/gmY8Q4Cc #MentalHealthMatters #FirstResponders #Ontario #PublicSafety #SupportingOurHeroes #MentalHealthSupport

Lived Experience Matters VMIAC & SHARC's disappointment with the Victorian Government's failure to implement Recommendation 29 from the Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System is palpable. The absence of funding for the #Consumer Lived Experience Agency, despite being overdue by 18 months & considered vital for the new mental health system, raises serious concerns about the government's commitment to reform. VMIAC's Interim CEO, Kathy Wilson, rightly points out that the government's failure to establish the agency is a breach of its promise to the community. The modest #investment required for this initiative, especially considering the substantial funds collected annually through the Mental Health & #Wellbeing Levy, makes the omission all the more disheartening. Wilson emphasizes that disregarding the Royal Commission's #recommendations jeopardizes progress & risks repeating past mistakes, ultimately undermining efforts to build a better mental health system. Echoing these sentiments, SHARC CEO Clare Davies emphasizes the pivotal role the Consumer Lived Experience Agency plays in ensuring a safer & more supportive mental health landscape for Victorians. Without its establishment, the ability to deliver essential care & support to those in need is compromised. Davies urges #Minister for Mental Health Ingrid Stitt to swiftly initiate steps toward establishing the agency within the next year, signaling a genuine commitment to fulfilling this crucial aspect of mental health reform. The delay in implementing Recommendation 29 not only signifies a failure to uphold a promise to the community but also raises doubts about the government's dedication to prioritizing the well-being of its citizens. The urgency of establishing the Consumer Lived Experience Agency cannot be overstated, as its absence hampers progress toward a more effective and compassionate mental health system in Victoria. #vicgov #mentalhealth Muriel Cummins https://lnkd.in/gbNmhrFC

Australians for Mental Health are calling for the Federal Parliament to develop and enact a Wellbeing Act in order to combat the mental health crisis in Australia. Such an act is necessary in order to enlist the whole of government in the effort to improve mental health and wellbeing outcomes at a population level by: 1. Articulating a set of National Mental Health & Wellbeing Principles to guide government decision-making and establish a baseline against which practises, policies and legislation can be measured; 2. Requiring the creation of national targets for the reduction of mental distress in the community; 3. Directing Commonwealth Departments and Agencies to develop and implement plans and initiatives that reduce the levels of mental distress in the community; and 4. Establishing a system of accountability for government actions in relation to mental health and wellbeing. Find out more details and SIGN the Petition to call for an ‘Australian Wellbeing Act’, here: 👉 https://lnkd.in/gmMkb_Mx Every Mind Matters! 🧠 afmh.org.au #AustraliansForMentalHealth : “Our mission: We want to ensure that Australia starts putting mental health at the heart of our national life. Australians for Mental Health has disruption at the centre of its mission. Independent of government and unencumbered by the demands of service delivery or sector representation, we are exclusively focused on campaigning in support of the aspirations of those who know fundamental change in mental health is a crucial priority for Australia.” #EveryMindMatters #MentalHealth #Wellbeing

Building skills in resilience and psychological flexibility in the workforce is vital. At a workforce forum this week looking at strategy for people the ‘lack of resilience and adaptability’ was listed in the top 3 challenges facing the workforce! Certainly a multifaceted approach is needed including primary targets that consider environment, secondary approaches focused on preventative skill training, and tertiary responses post events. Lots more can be done in this space!

Preparing a great start to 2025 - We have to do better! We should all now have planned our health and wellbeing activity for 2025, yet again we, as a collective, need to do better to help improve the overall mental health of our communities. What we do at work, is taken home, back to friends, family and neighbours. The recent date on deaths by suspected suicide in England shows that for the period April 2023 to June 2024: - the rates for persons and males in June 2024 are consistent with those seen since August 2023, apart from January 2024, which were higher - the rates for females and the 25 to 44 age group show some suggestion of decrease over recent months - as there is month by month fluctuation in rates, there is no obvious trend for the age groups 10 to 24, 45 to 64 and 65+ - over the entire reporting period, rates are consistently higher for males and the age groups 25 to 44 and 45 to 64 Fore more information on the design of a meaningful and impactful health and wellbeing programme, please contact team@letsgethealthy.co.uk (Source  - https://lnkd.in/dCik89ib)