The government is now operating in accordance with the Guidance on Caretaker Conventions, pending the outcome of the 2025 federal election.

Projects

National Stigma and Discrimination Reduction Strategy

In 2020, the National Mental Health Commission was tasked by National Cabinet with developing a National Stigma and Discrimination Reduction Strategy.

The project was framed around a long-term vision for an Australian community where everyone has equal dignity, value and respect, and opportunities to choose a life of personal meaning and purpose, free from mental health-related stigma and discrimination.

The project's focus was to explore how to:

  • Reduce self-stigma amongst those who experience mental health issues and those who support them
  • Reduce public stigma by changing attitudes and behaviours towards people with personal lived experience and carers, families and support people
  • Take steps towards eliminating structural stigma and discrimination towards those affected by mental health issues in identified settings.

It concentrated on stigma and discrimination reduction in the following settings:

  • Mental Health System
  • Health System
  • Financial Services, Insurance and Law
  • Education and Training
  • Employment
  • Social Services, Disability, Income Support and Housing.

The Commission undertook a collaborative process with people with a lived experience of mental health issues, trauma, distress or suicidality, families, carers and support people, along with people with other forms of expertise across each workstream and the broader community. It also established a Steering Committee and series of Technical Advisory Groups (on self-stigma, public stigma, structural stigma and discrimination, and measurement) to guide the development of the Strategy. 

A 12-week public consultation period was held from 9 November 2022 and closed on 1 February 2023. 

The Commission delivered the draft Strategy to Government in June 2023, for its consideration. The Minister for Health and Aged Care has asked the Department of Health and Aged Care to consider actions from the Strategy and to share the Strategy with senior officials across governments to support consideration of joint action in the reduction of stigma and discrimination. 

Consultations

Stigma Strategy - CALD engagement - Final report for publication

Stigma Strategy - ABSTARR Workshop - Final report

MISRed Reports

MISRed - Report 1 - Review of existing Australian stigma and discrimination initiatives and evidence

MISRed - Report 2 - Targeted consultations - Interim report

MISRed - Report 3 - Lived experience consultations

MISRed - Report 4 - Indigenous consultations

MISRed - Report 5 - Final summary and recommendations

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Acknowledgement of Country

The Commission acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands throughout Australia.
We pay our respects to their clans, and to the elders, past and present, and acknowledge their continuing connection to land, sea and community.

Diversity

The Commission is committed to embracing diversity and eliminating all forms of discrimination in the provision of health services. The Commission welcomes all people irrespective of ethnicity, lifestyle choice, faith, sexual orientation and gender identity.

Lived Experience

We acknowledge the individual and collective contributions of those with a lived and living experience of mental ill-health and suicide, and those who love, have loved and care for them. Each person’s journey is unique and a valued contribution to Australia’s commitment to mental health suicide prevention systems reform.