Because mental health matters:
a new focus for mental health and wellbeing in Victoria

Consultation Paper

Overview

Mental health and mental health problems are increasingly vital public issues. Their impacts on individuals, families and communities are a major challenge for governments around the world.  The Victorian Government is very aware of its responsibility to provide the most effective and humane care for those affected by mental health problems. 

The Minister for Mental Health, the Hon Lisa Neville MP, has now released the Because mental health matters consultation paper summary.  The Because mental health matters consultation paper outlines the new vision for Victoria’s mental health services and proposes priorities for action and possible solutions to identified needs.

An executive summary of Because mental health matters is also available and acts as a stand alone document to the consultation paper.

(Both the Summary and Main paper can be ordered from the on-line ordering page)

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Consultation

Discussion group forums for mental health consumers and carers will be held on Thursday 10 July at the Queen Victoria Women’s Centre, 210 Lonsdale St Melbourne. 

These forums are designed specifically for consumers and carers. These forums will provide the opportunity for participants to comment on the mental health reform directions identified in the Because Mental Health Matters consultation paper. The forums are scheduled for:

Carers: 10am – 1pm Thursday 10 July
Consumers: 2pm – 5pm Thursday 10 July

If you would like to attend one of these forums, please contact Ms Petrina O’Connor, Senior Policy Advisor, Mental Health Reform Strategy Team, on 9096 8051 or at petrina.o’connor@dhs.vic.gov.au by Thursday 3 July. 

Please note that spaces are limited and RSVP is essential.

Cross sector consultation forums will also be conducted in Department of Human Services regional areas across Victoria.  These forums are targeted to mental health services and broader health, community and welfare services that provide support to people who have mental health problems.

Enquiries should be directed to the relevant regional contact person identified in the following table.  Please note that spaces are limited and RSVP is essential.

The dates for these forums are as follows:

As part of these regional forums workshop sessions will be conducted on the following areas (please note – these topics are subject to change):

• Mental health promotion and prevention in a community setting
• Services for children, young people and families
• Role of primary health system in mental health
• Improving outcomes for people with a mental illness involved in the criminal justice system
• Responding to people in urgent need (including emergency services)
• Adults with severe mental health problems
• Workforce development (workers with specialist mental health roles)
• Engaging and treating vulnerable young people
• Responding to people with multiple needs (including care co-ordination)
• Responding to people with mental illness and serious physical health problems and or disability
• Older people with or at risk of a mental illness
• Housing and support (including homelessness)
• Governance and local partnerships
• Outcomes framework, evaluation and research
• Improving outcomes for carers
• Improving consumer’s experiences and meeting expectations

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If you are unable to attend the regional forums, a statewide forum will be held on:

Tuesday 8 July
10.00am – 3.30pm (registration is from 9.15am)
Flemington Racecourse
448 Epsom Rd
Flemington

This forum is targeted to mental health services and broader health, community and welfare services that provide support to people who have a mental health problems. 

If you would like to attend this event, please contact Mr James Dunne, Project Officer, Mental Health Reform Strategy Team, on 9096 7089 or at james.dunne@dhs.vic.gov.au by Friday 27 June 2008.

Please note spaces are limited and RSVP is essential.

Written Submission

We want to hear your views on the directions proposed in Because mental health matters.  We encourage submissions from all mental health stakeholders and want you to tell us how we can improve mental health in Victoria.

We are expecting a large volume of submissions, so whenever possible please highlight the specific section of the consultation paper or the goal being addressed in your comments.  This will assist us in analysing your responses. 

The questions throughout Because mental health matters act to guide but not limit your submission and we encourage you to raise issues that aren’t covered in the questions and any significant gaps in the paper overall.

In responding to the paper, please focus as much as possible on the outcomes you would like to see for individuals and communities and the changes to service systems and policies required to achieve these outcomes.

We are interested in local examples of effective or innovative practices, particularly where this may have wider application.  Please note, however, that we may not have the capacity to follow-up on specific local problems or opportunities – there issues are best directed to local Members of Parliament or government regional offices.

Guidelines for submission:

• It is preferred that submissions are typed and, if being submitted electronically, in either Microsoft Word or PDF format
• All submissions will be acknowledged with a letter via post and receipt via email (if applicable)
• Submissions will not be published in their entirety, however, all submissions remain public document and parts of your submission may be quoted publicly, unless a specific request for confidentiality is clearly made.  Names of submitters (organisations or individuals) will be publicly acknowledged in the interest of accuracy.

Hard Copies of the full document can be obtained from:  mhreformstrategy@dhs.vic.gov.au or telephone 03 9096 0477.

Written submissions should be sent to the same e-mail address, or posted to:

Mental Health Reform Strategy
Mental Health and Drugs Division
Department of Human Services
Level 17/50 Lonsdale Street
Melbourne Vic 3000

The closing date for written submissions is 31 July 2008.

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