Mental Health Council of Tasmania Enews October Edition

Last week staff and board members of the Mental Health Council of Tasmania gathered with the friends and family of our long serving board member Lucy Henry to celebrate her life and mourn her passing.

Lucy served on the Mental Health Council of Tasmania board for many years and was also connected to us through her advocacy and representation but, more importantly, as a friend. Lucy was highly regarded throughout the state and across the nation for her work on mental health consumer advocacy as well as being respected as a beautiful and brave person.
Lucy acted as a catalyst in the MHCT Board Room. Her thorough and thoughtful interrogation of how various ideas would impact on mental health consumers served to initiate robust debate, as well as keeping our focus on our most important stakeholders – the people whose lives are directly impacted by mental illness.

Lucy was well known across Tasmania and nationally for her work in mental health consumer advocacy. Lucy was often seen at conferences, forums and workshops with her dog Lottie where she was always the first to ask questions and delighted in challenging perceptions of how services should be provided and what mental health consumers valued. She had a gift for making people challenge their assumptions, often using her wicked sense of humour to take a swipe at sacred cows and tokenistic platitudes.

Lucy’s dedication to fundraising throughout her life showed her generosity and dedication to give back to the rest of the community that had always supported her. She raised money for the Burns Unit at the Royal Hobart Hospital and her contribution to the Choir of High Hopes was a great example of her passion and determination for the community sector.

Lucy’s strong voice as a highly regarded consumer representative will serve as her legacy and gift to the world. For all those lucky enough to call her a friend or colleague – she will not be forgotten and always remembered as a force to be reckoned with.

The past month has been a very challenging one for the Mental Health Council of Tasmania. In my 14 years as a CEO I have never before faced the challenge of losing a member of the team to suicide. To have lost two board members in the space of a month through suicide (one that of the board member’s daughter and the other a board member herself) has had, and is still having, a profound impact on all of us. Many staff at MHCT (myself included) have previous suicides or attempts as part of our family history, so you can appreciate the impact of recent events has been deeply and personally felt. I would like to thank all those who have contacted MHCT from across the mental health sector to offer your support. But most of all I would like to pay tribute to my MHCT colleagues, both staff and board, for the wonderful way we have rallied around to support each other. Never in my 14 years as a CEO have I felt so proud of the team I’ve led.

Nominations for the 2013 MHCT Board election have now closed, with many excellent candidates putting themselves forward for election. Ballot papers will be distributed next week and must be returned by the AGM (members may bring their votes to the AGM). Two members will be elected to the board and I urge all members to vote for your preferred candidates.

Members are also reminded to save the date for our (fast approaching) AGM on Thursday 21^st November at 10AM at the Royal Tasmanian Botanical Gardens. Our guest speaker will be Tasmania’s newly appointed Chief Psychiatrist, Dr Len Lambeth, who will share his vision for mental health services in Tasmania. We will also use this event to launch the new Strategic Plan of Mental Health Council of Tasmania.

The Mental Health Council of Australia, in partnership with Beyond Blue, is keen to hear from people who have experienced discrimination in insurance due to a mental illness. For further information, see http://mentalhealthandinsurance.org.au/

Our CEO-Managers Network and Regional Mental Health Network meetings are being held in coming weeks and we urge all those invited to attend.

Back to Contents

The next RMHG meetings are scheduled for:

Southern:
Thursday 7 November, 9.30am – 11.30am
Anglicare Board Room
18 Watchorn Street, Hobart

Northern:
Wednesday 13 November, 1.30pm – 3.30pm
Anglicare Training Room
116 Elizabeth St Launceston

North West:
Thursday 14 November, 10am – 12pm
Meeting Room, Devonport LINC

21 Oldaker Street, Devonport

If you have an issue/news or would like to make a presentation please contact Elida at policy@mhct.org so that we can add it to the agenda for the next meeting.

Back to Contents

Seclusion and Restraint
The April Regional Mental Health Group meetings included discussion of seclusion and restraint and people’s attitude towards these issues. Following that, and after meetings with stakeholders including consumers and carers and clinicians the MHCT, working the Advocacy Tasmania researched and wrote a Seclusion and restraint briefing paper which has gone to the recently formed Seclusion and Restraint Oversight Committee. This Committee was convened by Southern Mental Health and Statewide Services and the Emergency Department Royal Hobart Hospital to bring together key and appropriately senior representatives of relevant stakeholders and clinical staff to provide broad oversight of the utilisation of seclusion and restraint across Southern Tasmania. The MHCT is represented on this committee.

Seclusion and restraint techniques continue to be frequently used at Tasmanian mental health facilities despite clear evidence that this is contrary to international best practice. This is despite the reduction efforts fostered by the Beacon Project (2009). The Mental Health Council of Tasmania (MHCT) has received advice that the Royal Hobart Hospital Department of Psychiatry (DPM and PICU) has recorded significant increases in use of seclusion and the length of time that people are being kept in seclusion.

The MHCT has been meeting with mental health sector stakeholders to discuss why momentum initially generated by the Beacon project has been lost and what can be done to remedy the situation.[1]

Given that the new Mental Health Act commencing on 1 January 2014 is focused on improving protections for mental health clients who are subject to treatment by law, the MHCT considers that it is imperative that procedures for reducing incidences of seclusion and restraint are immediately reviewed and any necessary changes implemented as a matter of urgency.
Read more

Elida Meadows will be attending the 9th National Seclusion and Restraint Reduction Forum in Canberra being held Thursday 28 and Friday 29 November.

Back to Contents

Stuck in Myself: isolation and mental health consumers research project.

The impact of isolation on mental health consumers and carers.

Focus groups and interviews with consumers for the Stuck in Myself: isolation and mental health consumers research project have been completed, and we are now asking carers about their experiences with social isolation – their own and that of the people they are caring for and how it impacts on them.

Please note that:

At this stage we are still booking carer focus groups and interviews.
We are still seeking to interview service providers, in particular managers who provide and oversee social/recreational programs for mental health consumers.
We are also happy to continue interviewing and holding focus groups with consumers.

If you want to know more about this project and are interested in participating please contact Elida Meadows, Policy and Research Officer by email: policy@mhct.org or by phone 6224 9222

Budget Priority Submission 2014-2015

The MHCT has developed and lodged a Budget Priority Submission in advance of Treasury preparing the 2014-15 State Budget. As in previous years, the MHCT made a detailed submission based on member input currently being gathered through our Regional Mental Health meetings. Some issues that we’ve already identified include a comprehensive anti-stigma campaign, long-term support and accommodation, and a Mental Health Industry Plan.
The BPS 2014-2015 can be viewed on the MHCT website here.

[1] We have discussed the issue at the three Regional Mental Health Group meetings in Hobart, Launceston and Devonport held in March; with consumers and carers generally and at 2 meetings with stakeholders including Aron Perkins, Advocacy Tasmania, Cat Schofield, Director of Nursing, SMHS, Jim Blacket, Clinical Director for Mental Health Services Southern Tasmania, Danii Lane, Consumer Advocate, Darren Jiggins, Consumer Advocate, Lucy Henry, Consumer Advocate, Miranda Ashby, EO of Flourish, Wendy Groot, EO of Mental Health Carers Tasmania, Peter Gillies, Quality & Safety Consultant l Mental Health Services South, and Darren Carr, CEO of MHCT.)

The 100 Women of Influence awards are dedicated to identifying and celebrating the women who are changing Australia. Each of the 100 finalists has demonstrated collaboration within and beyond their field and a wider circle of influence than through their direct role.

Mind and body
Did you know people with mental illness have far poorer physical health too?
Rates of heart disease, diabetes, and other conditions are much higher than the general population.

SANE Australia's Mind + Body initiative recognises that a healthier life includes both mental and physical wellness, and promotes common sense steps to improve the health of the whole person. Visit the new Mind + Body area of the SANE website to find out more.

A new mobile app for young men was launched last week by ReachOut.com. The Sorter app is aimed at young men 17+ and delivers free, bite-sized pieces of advice across five areas that young men highlight as causing them most concern. With young men in Australia more than four times as likely to die as a result of suicide than young women, initiatives like this should be wholeheartedly supported. Please visit the website for more information and details on how to download the app.

MHCT would like to express that Mental Health Week events across Tasmania were all a huge success.

To everyone who held an event you did an outstanding job of engaging the community and getting people to think about their own mental health. It truly was a great week of Celebrating, Connecting and Growing.

Carers Advisory Council

Expressions of interest are now invited for 11 positions

Closing Date: Wed 6th November 2013

Expressions of interest to become a member of the new Tasmanian Carers Advisory Council are now invited from community members who are Carers.

Download the flyer for more information on how to apply.

For further information: Contact Simone Favelle at Carers Tasmania on 6231 5507 or simone@carerstas.org

In early October our Work Force Development Officer Russell wrote to all our member organisations providing the background and contact points for information about the 26TEN program.

If you are considering applying for a grant under this, please forward your applications to Russell so he can consolidate them into one Sector application. Please have these to Russell by 8 November.
wfd@mhct.org

The 2013/2014 Skills Fund applications open on 4 November 2013.

This year Russell has recommended the following TasTAFE Courses and Skill Sets as the most relevant to our Sector:

CHC40512 Certificate IV Mental Health
CHC50612 Diploma of Community Services Work
CHC52212 Diploma of Community Services Coordination
First Aid
Medication Training
Infection Control
Introduction to Mental Health Work

Russell also recommends the following Courses offered by Singleton Consulting:

Advanced Diploma of Management
Diploma of Management
Diploma of Human Resource Management
Certificate IV in Frontline Management

In the week commencing 28 October Russell will be distributing the application forms for individual employees to complete, have them approved and returned to him for consolidation into one application.

Dr Jim Blacket, Clinical Director and Chris Fox, Area Manager for Mental Health Services from Mental Health Services South welcome the opportunity to meet with you, provide a brief service update and talk generally about issues of concern.

RSVP to : Rosie Walker - 6230 7819 or email to mhs.executiveassistant@dhhs.tas.gov.au

Queries to: Darren Jiggins - Flourish - 6223 1952 or email to admin@flourishtas.org.au

Back to Contents

2013 Tasmanian Disability Support Workers Conference

Are your frontline staff ready for the NDIS?

You have until Wednesday 6 November 2013 to register online for the 2013 Tasmanian Disability Support Workers Conference, to be held on 11–12 November 2013 at the Hotel Grand Chancellor in Hobart.
The program aims to assist support workers to consider their role in the changing disability landscape and equip them for the fresh challenges of frontline work.

All organisations employing staff who support people with disability are encouraged to send a delegation to the 2013 Tasmanian Disability Support Workers Conference.

Registrations and more information can be obtained by contacting David at NDS by phone on 03 62236086, or by email to: david.clements@nds.org.au.

Back to Contents

Hearing Voices: Journeys to Understanding: Sharing experience, expertise and wisdom

20-22 November, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre

Draft program now online - 119 sessions to choose from!

Traditionally held in Europe, this extraordinary conference brings together the world’s leading experts on hearing voices and recovery. It is an event unlike anything else in mental health, filled with hope, innovative thinking and collaboration. This year the congress will be hosted in Melbourne by Voices Vic, Prahran Mission.

The congress is consumer-led, but is developed by a working group which also includes members from all mental health disciplines, real practice and the latest research, carers & families, and multicultural & indigenous perspectives

Complexity & Connectedness in Life & Love: Working with trauma, mental health & identity

PACFA, CAPA (NSW) and AARC 2014 Conference

13 - 15 June 2014 at the Aerial UTS Function Centre, University of Technology, Sydney

Keynote Speakers: Professor Emeritus of Counselling John McLeod, University of Abertay, Scotland Professor David Tacey, La Trobe University, Melbourne

Complexity & Connectedness in Life & Love will explore how counsellors and psychotherapists support clients with the complex challenges of life and relationships in the 21st century, where identity and wellbeing are shaped by the prevalence of trauma and mental health issues, and the therapeutic encounter is an opportunity for greater connectedness in the face of growing isolation in our world.
Back to Contents

Mental Health Council of Tasmania ENEWS

October 2013 Edition

CEO Column

email: promotions@mhct.org.au