The National Mental Health Commission today announced a Call for Submissions as an important contribution to the national review of mental health services and programmes.
The Commission has been tasked by the Government to undertake an independent review of mental health to ensure programmes and services are supporting individuals experiencing mental ill health and their families and other support people, so that they can lead a contributing life and engage productively in the community.
Commission Chair Professor Allan Fels said the submission process was an important element of the wide-ranging review as it enabled further input into consultations on how to build a world class mental health system.
“To help people experiencing mental ill health and their families receive the services and supports they need, the Commission needs practical on-the-ground knowledge of what works, what doesn’t, what’s counterproductive, and whether we are achieving value for money results,” Professor Fels said.
The submission process will provide further evidence to inform the Commission’s consideration of (among other things):
- the efficiency and effectiveness of existing mental health services and programmes
- whether existing services are being properly targeted, or are being duplicated
- funding priorities in mental health and gaps in services and programmes, in the context of the current fiscal circumstances facing governments
- existing and alternative approaches to supporting and funding mental health care
- whether programmes are being unnecessarily burdened by red tape.
“It’s imperative that we’re investing effectively in mental health to ensure people living with mental health issues and their families and other carers are supported to lead a contributing life and to engage productively in the community,” Professor Fels said.
“The Review is examining the broad factors relevant to the experience of a contributing life such as employment, education and training, and accommodation – about how we maximise individual participation and thereby contribute to community productivity.
We’re particularly interested in hearing first hand advice on experiences in the mental health system.
We want to find real examples and practical solutions to the existing challenges, particularly those faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and those living in regional, rural and remote Australia.”
The Commission also will engage with Commonwealth and state and territory governments, private, and non-government sectors to get these insights.
The Call for Submissions will ‘go live’ on Monday, with an online survey available through the Commission’s website.
The Commission is writing to stakeholders informing them of the submission process and seeking their input to the review. The Commission also will accept submissions from other organisations and individuals who want to contribute to the review process.
The call for submissions is open until 11.59pm pm AEST Monday 14 April 2014.
The final review report will be provided to the Government by 30 November 2014.
