Articles

Students studying a Diploma of Community Welfare Work at TAFE Sydney Institute, Ultimo doing research on carers, their well-being and the stressors that they may experience in their caring roles have created an online survey consisting of ten questions.

Psychosis is a term used to describe a range of conditions that affect the mind, where the functioning of a person’s brain is severely disrupted. When someone experiences psychosis they are unable to distinguish from what is real, and there is a loss of contact with reality. To learn more about this condition read the Article on ARAFMI's website.

This year the NSW Mental Health Act is to be reviewed.  This article draws out a number of issues for consideration.

Mark Butler, Minister for Mental Health & Aging used an editorial piece with a catchy title, "Depression, let me Google it for you" to launch the  mindhealthconnect.org.au website.

Mental Heath Carers ARAFMI NSW Inc undertook consultations with consumer and carer stakeholders understand what they considered the top priorities for the new NSW Mental Health Commission and to better understand how such stakeholders would prefer to be engaged by the Commission as it undertakes its role.

Carers and service providers are being sought for research into awareness of the recovery approach to supporting a loved one with a mental illness.

Since October 2011 there have been no less than four significant empirical studies or inquiries (including a Legislative Council inquiry) published reviewing the work of the NSW MHRT.

Combined these provide some remarkable and valuable insights into the functioning of this body, and the dedication of the people working within the Tribunal system. The four studies are,

• “The NSW Mental Health Review Tribunal - An analysis of clients, matters and determinations”(October 2011);
• The monograph “Australian Mental Health Tribunals – Space for Fairness, Freedom, Protection and Treatment” (31 October 2011);
• the Communio ‘Evaluation of the Efficiency and Cost of the Mental Health Inquiry System’ Report (30 January 2012); and
• The Report of the Law and Justice Standing Committee of the Legislative Council on “Opportunities to consolidate tribunals in NSW” (March 2012).

Suicide Prevention Australia seeking persons with lived experience of suicide to participate in their Lived Experience Policy Advisory Committee.

ARAFMI NSW recently conducted a series of consultation sessions relating to the NSW Mental Health Commission.  You can still have your say regarding the priorities that have been set by the Taskforce for the work of the Commission - check out the materials and surveys here.

Federal minister Mark Butler winds back planned changes to Better Access on a transitional basis.

NSW’s CEO-Keiran Booth has just been accredited as a  ‘Master Mental Health First Aid Trainer’ by Official Mental Health First Aid authorities.  Mental Health First aid is a 12-hour course designed to give members of the public some skills to identify and assist someone developing a mental health problem or in a mental health crisis situation.

In spite of the many descriptions available the precise means the new NSW Mental Health Commission should use and the priorities the Commission should have as it goes about its work is still being settled . Commendably, the government is keen to do this in accordance with the views of stakeholders with emphasis on the opinions of consumers and carers. Read more to understand the issues still facing the new Commission and how you can play a part in helping to resolve them.