Listen to Content

Monitoring mental health and suicide prevention reform: National Report 2020

Appendix C: Sector announcements relating to COVID-19, bushfires and mental health

Organisation Announcement Extract Date and Website
Black Dog Institute TEN—The Essential Network: an app supporting health professionals to manage life and work through COVID-19.

'TEN' is a mobile app that connects and provides fast, easy, anytime access to evidence-based tools, resources, programs and specialists.

Developed by health professionals for health professionals, it's a one-stop resource and help centre, providing self-assessment, self-management and treatment for stress, anxiety and symptoms of depression. At the core is an online clinic screening tool designed to recommend relevant resources and online tools based on report outcomes.		 2020 - View Here
Beyond Blue/Be You Bushfire Response Program—support for schools and early learning services affected by bushfires.

The Bushfire Response Program provides targeted mental health support to schools and early learning services affected by bushfires across Australia.		 2020 - View Here
Everymind The Life in Mind team at Everymind has worked with the suicide prevention and mental health sectors, and in collaboration with the National Mental Health Commission to provide a comprehensive list of resources to support those affected by bushfires and COVID-19. View Here
SANE Australia Position statement on the impact of COVID-19, advocating for various actions required as part of the COVID-19 mental health response. 2020 - View Here
Neami National Support during COVID-19
In response to the extraordinary circumstances across Australia, we are maintaining support, while reducing risks to the people who use our services, our staff and the community.		 2020 - View Here
Beyond Blue We have published a dedicated 'Coping with bushfires' thread in our online forums. The thread provides a safe, understanding place to share how you are feeling about the bushfires and to offer support to those affected. 9 January 2020 - View Here
Mental Health Australia 'Look after your mental health, Australia'
Over the next few weeks, we will be promoting a series of community-driven ideas to help people keep mentally well during this difficult time, and sharing the wonderful content so many of you have already begun producing.		 March 2020 - View Here
Orygen Responding to the COVID-19 outbreak. March 2020 - View Here
Flourish Australia New Health Action Plan in response to COVID-19. 20 March 2020 - View Here
Suicide Prevention Australia Impact of COVID-19 on the sector: survey report
In mid-April 2020, Suicide Prevention Australia launched a survey to help inform the National Suicide Prevention Adviser about the impact the COVID-19 pandemic is having on program and service delivery within the sector. The goal was to gather intelligence to inform the national response, as well as provide an opportunity to identify ways to build sector capacity during this challenging period.		 April 2020 - View Here
Independent Community Living Australia/Roses in the Ocean Launch of eFriend, a virtual, peer-based mental health support platform. The platform connects Australians with peer workers who apply their personal lived experience of mental illness and recovery to support mental health consumers and carers. April 2020 - View Here
Various #InThisTogether campaign
The Commission, together with mental health organisations, experts and leaders, has developed #InThisTogether—a national conversation sharing practical tips online to support the mental health and wellbeing of Australians during COVID-19. Contributors include Beyond Blue, Lifeline, Reachout, headspace, RUOK?, Orygen, the Black Dog Institute, SANE Australia, the Brain and Mind Centre, Apunipima Cape York Health Council and Smiling Mind.		 1 April 2020 - View Here
Beyond Blue Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service

This includes a 24/7 phone support service, web chat support service, online community forum, and various other mental health and wellbeing support resources.		 9 April 2020 - View Here
Everymind Everymind jointly launches Coronavirus (COVID-19) survey to understand impact on Australian media, marketing and creative industries. 29 April 2020 - View Here
Save the Children The Save the Children bushfire response acknowledged the role of families in children's recovery and provided a staged approach as needs shifted. The response provided:
  • • 10 child-friendly spaces in evacuation relief and recovery centres in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia to provide respite to recently evacuated families
  • • mobile outreach teams that returned to communities after recovery centres had closed to deliver psychosocial support to children and families
  • • engagement with schools and regional authorities to plan delivery of the Journey of Hope Program to help children cope with traumatic events. 
  •  
 12 May 2020 - View Here
Neami National Neami National is launching a new service to support the more than 500 people who have moved from sleeping rough into local hotels and motels in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. 22 May 2020 - View Here
Suicide Prevention Australia Joint white paper: Reducing distress in the community following the COVID-19 pandemic

Turning the Tide: a six-point plan for change

State of the nation report

June 2020 - View Here

March 2020 - View Here

September 2020 - View Here
Various #GettingThroughThisTogether campaign
The Commission, together with mental health organisations, experts and leaders, has developed #GettingThroughThisTogether—a national conversation sharing practical tips and support for the mental health and wellbeing of all Australians as COVID-19 continues.		 16 August 2020 - View Here
Previous Appendix B: Government announcements relating to COVID-19, bushfires and mental health
Next Appendix D: Suicide prevention activities
Aboriginal flag Torres Strait Islander flag

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 present and emerging, 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.