QMHC eNews – Issue 45

While the new Mental Health Act 2016 has many provisions that strengthen the human rights of people in involuntary mental health care, it is important these rights are realised and enforced in practice.

We have engaged the University of New South Wales (UNSW) to research human rights oversight mechanisms in Queensland, including how people receiving involuntary treatment are able to enforce their rights.

The research will inform our input to a review of the Mental Health Act at its two year milestone. We also hope it will help the community voice their views about the future of human rights protections in the mental health system. This includes legislation such as the Public Guardian Act which establishes the Community Visitors scheme.

UNSW will work in partnership with Griffith University and the University of Sydney.

Raising community awareness is an important part of what we do.

No one sector agency or community can reduce suicide and its impacts on their own. Community is the first line of suicide prevention — we can all be equipped to give help, to get help and prevent suicide.

Take a minute, change a life, the theme for 2017, spotlights the importance of having a supportive conversation with someone if you’re concerned about their wellbeing.

This year we focused on promoting the wealth of available information and support services.

A number of events helped spread the suicide prevention message across the State.

The Commission participated in a number of these events, including the AISRAP Community Forum, PTS17 Conference and Lifeline Out of the Shadows and into the Light Walks. 

Congratulations to all involved.

Share your views on the mental health and wellbeing needs of people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

The Queensland Transcultural Mental Health Centre has released a consultation paper to gather input into developing a new plan to expand transcultural mental health services in Queensland Health.

Feedback on the consultation paper will inform the investment of new funding and help identify the actions needed over the next three years to better meet the mental health and wellbeing needs of Queenslanders from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Download the consultation paper and take the survey

Australia’s Annual Overdose Report 2017 reminds us of the importance of preventing and reducing the harms associated with alcohol and other drug misuse.

The report was released by Penington Institute on 31 August for  International Overdose Awareness Day.

Findings:

• In 2015, there were 2,023 drug-related deaths in Australia.
• 1,498 Australians died from accidental overdose
• Overdose deaths across regional Australia increased from 5.9 per capita in 2010 to 7.3 per capita in 2015.
• Middle-aged Australians (aged 30-59) are more likely to die of accidental overdose than any other age group.
• Along with Western Australia, Queensland had the greatest increase in all drug-related deaths and accidental deaths caused by pharmaceutical opioids over the last decade.

Request a copy of Australia’s Annual Overdose Report 2017.

Read Queensland’s actions to prevent and reduce the harmful impacts of alcohol and other drugs in the Queensland Alcohol and Other Drug Action Plan 2015–17.

The recent TheMHS conference in Sydney explored the changes mental health services have undergone in the last 10 years and the changes yet to come through the theme Embracing change through innovation and lived experience.

People with lived experience, their families, carers and supporters make a valuable, specialised and expert contribution to driving reform of the mental health system.

We are proud to have supported a person with lived experience to attend the conference on 30 August.

Ailsa Rayner has been an active contributor to the work of the Commission and the Advisory Council since our establishment in 2013.  Her discussions and perspectives from the conference are valuable, and we plan to make her feedback available on our website soon.

With early and appropriate treatment and support, recovery from an eating disorder is possible.

A new suite of online resources provide support to people living with an eating disorder and their families, friends and carers.

The Navigating Your Way to Health and Navigating Their Way to Health videos, podcasts and postcards were developed by the Hunter Institute of Mental Health in partnership with nib foundation with input from people who have personal experience of eating disorders, their families and friends, as well as service providers. They provide practical tips on how to access help throughout the eating disorder treatment process, navigate treatment options, and assist carers and friends with information on how to best support their loved one and understand the recovery journey.

• Noosa Council Community Grant Programs – Grants to help organisations and individuals meet community needs, build community skills and resilience and develop and maintain community infrastructure. Apply by 22 September.
• St George Foundation Community Grants – Up to $50,000 grants available for smaller community organisations that work to provide a brighter future for socially, economically or physically disadvantaged children.
• Mazda Foundation – Financial aid for community advancement, such as the improvement of education and employment skills, development of technology and the protection of the environment. The Foundation's priorities are children with physical and/or mental disabilities and elderly people suffering mental disabilities.
• Jetstar's Flying Start Program – Community groups and organisations across Australia are invited to apply for a grant to fund a project that will enrich the lives of people in their local community.
• Sisters of Charity Foundation – Grants up to $10,000 available to support small grass-roots organisations who make a huge difference for those in need, but struggle to find funding through other avenues.
• Cairns Regional Council Local Community Events Grants – Up to $15,000 available to support organisations deliver events that benefit local communities. 

• Workshops to develop Brisbane North Regional Plan – 4-21 September. Brisbane North PHN is hosting a series of focused workshops to help develop the regional plan for mental health, suicide prevention and alcohol and other drug treatment.
• Global Alcohol Policy Conference – 4-6 October. A 3-day conference bringing together alcohol policy makers and researchers from across the world. The theme is Mobilising for Change – Alcohol policy and the evidence for action.
• 7th International Carers Conference – 4-6 October. Hosted by Carers Australia, the conference aims to re-imagine caring into the future, providing a catalyst for innovation and collaboration; sharing improvements in the way we support unpaid carers, care-recipients, their families, networks and communities.
• Australian Rural and Remote Mental Health Symposium – 11-13 October. This year the symposium’s theme is Impacts and Outcomes, Putting People First.
• Mental Health Super Summit 2017 – 5-22 October. 20 hours of cutting-edge learning, presented by experts from all over the world, and accessible from the comfort of your couch. Join mental health professionals and industry experts at ‘the largest online mental health conference ever held in Australia’.
• 7th National Borderline Personality Disorder Conference – 18 October. An opportunity for clinicians, practitioners, consumers, carers and family members from across Australia to come together to collaborate, share information and educate the wider community. The theme is ‘From Stigma to Strength’.
• QCOSS State Conference – 31 October–1 November. With a focus on social innovation, the conference will shine the spotlight people who have approached their business differently.
• North Brisbane Partners in Recovery Forum – 2 November. The fifth annual forum will focus on connecting mental and physical health and wellbeing. The program will include three streams of activity in the areas of: building capacity, creating wellness and living in recovery.
• 1st Asia Pacific Conference on Integrated Care – 6-8 November. Join researchers, clinicians and managers from the Asia Pacific region and around the world who are engaged in the design and delivery of integrated health and care services.
• Mind the Gap workshop – 9 November. The Queensland Alliance for Mental Health invites you to register your interest in attending a workshop to identify the gaps and help your organisation thrive in your transition to NDIS.
• National NDIS Mental Health Conference – 16 November. An opportunity for the mental health sector to work together to make the most of the new scheme. With the conference theme ‘towards a good life’, there will be a focus on the transformational potential of the NDIS for people living with a psychosocial disability.