pls share in Perth – #Trauma Informed Care Workshop Oct 2,3 reg. now #mentalhealth West Australia

Interviews with some of the best online: @kgosztola @kennethlipp @juliacreinhart @lissnup

We had the privilege of hearing from some very cool activists in the US and UK over the weekend.

Perth activist Kate joined me live in the studio as we spoke to Kevin and Kenneth  and the second night featured Julia then Anita.

I love these people – hope you enjoy our chat – simply click the audio links below and listen while you compute )

Kevin Gosztola   @kgosztola 15 minutes

Kenneth Lipp     @kennethlipp 12 minutes

Julia Reinhart    @juliacreinhart 18 minutes

Anita Hunt         @lissnup  24 minutes

twitter home pages below….

Perth Saturday May 7 – Bringing Families and Professionals together – Mental Health, Drugs, Alcohol

A chance for family and health professionals to talk - click pic to visit Palmerston.org

Click the pic to visit Palmerston Association

Audio – 3 interviews – Ex Navy diver floats real help, eating disorders in 5-13 year olds, new documentary on skin and race

Enjoy the 3 interviews below and please visit the websites listed for each for more info, and for how you can make a difference too.

1.

SKIN DEEP airs on SBS January 2 at 8.30pm

Click the blue link to hear Franco Di Chiera talking about this brilliant documentary

 

Click the Pic to visit the SBS link for SKIN DEEP

Quote: 

“The concept of ancient human ancestry is extremely powerful, as demonstrated by the number of people who ventured out into storms to attend the evening. The formal feedback we received has been overwhelmingly positive, and there have been some wonderful references to how the screening of SKIN DEEP tied the evening together.  Well deserved praise for a film that captures the mystery of the human journey.” Steve Kern, the RiAus Senior Programs Co-ordinator, Science Exchange, Adelaide

Websites:If listeners want to know more they can go to the SBS website for the Secrets of the Human Body series of which Skin Deep is a part at:http://www.sbs.com.au/shows/secretsofthehumanbody/about/page/i/1/show/secretsofthehumanbodyOr they can also go to RiAus site at:http://www.riaus.org.au/events/2010/12/07/skin_deep_exploring_human_ancestry.jspOr for additional interviews, RiaAus “On Demand” including an interview  at:http://riausondemand.org.au/event/exploring-human-ancestry/

Finally, there is a trailer on the RiAus site at:

http://vimeo.com/16518094

2.

Ex Australian Navy Special forces officer doing something special in the developing world.

Click the Pic to visit TheSpark.org.au

Click here to hear Aaron’s inspiring story

1. Spark* identifies inspiring young individuals in countries facing extreme poverty.
2. Over 12 months Spark* develops these individuals as grassroots leaders and change makers.
3. These young individuals, with the support of Spark* re-enter their communities to build projects, turning the tide against extreme poverty.

In 2010 we are focusing on Papua New Guinea, a country where almost 3 million people live on less than $USD1.25 per day.

3

Click the logo to visit the Foundation and make a difference for the “Unknown” child this Christmas

The Butterfly Foundation is working to save lives as we come to grips with eating disorders that are fatal for 10% of children aged 5-13 who report with the illness.

Please visit the site after hearing from Christine Morgan and if you can please donate, you’ll give a Christmas present to the “unknown” child who may be saved.

Click here to hear from Christine Morgan, CEO The Butterfly Foundation

Australia – New Book, Website and Blog – Speed Up and Sit Still – exposes the ADHD Industry

New Book, Website and Blog – Speed Up and Sit Still - exposes the ADHD Industry (www.speedupsitstill.com)

Image via Wikipedia

 

Member of the Western Australian State Parliament Martin Whitely MLA, a former teacher, outlines the controversies surrounding ADHD diagnosis and treatment in Australia, in his book Speed Up and Sit Still published by University of Western Australia Publishing.

While other books have been written about ADHD this is the first to outline the science, marketing and politics of ADHD, written by a politician. Whitely became concerned about ADHD in the1990’s when he was alarmed at the number of boys in his class who were medicated with amphetamines and were unnaturally quiet and compliant.

In Speed Up and Sit Still Whitely examines the reasons for the massive increase in Australian ADHD drug use concluding, “Prescribing rates have exploded because it is in the interests of many stakeholders to accept, without proof, the hypothesis that ADHD is caused by a biochemical imbalance.

Drug companies profit, busy clinicians get a quick, easy, lucrative diagnosis and treatment, struggling teachers get a compliant child, governments get a cheap way of appearing to meet child mental health demands and parents are fooled into an illusory belief that they have helped their child with a quick and apparently effective intervention. The real losers in the ADHD debate are children who are completely powerless to prevent themselves being ‘medicated’.”

Whitely is scathing in his assessment of his fellow politicians claiming most leave the controversial issue in the “too hard basket” or do as the Rudd and Howard Governments did, “delegate the solution to the problem of reckless prescribing to those who had created it in the first place.“

Speed Up and Sit Still follows the money trail and outlines the influence of the American Psychiatric Association and the pharmaceutical companies on Australian psychiatric practice. It also details the history of ADHD in Western Australia and New South Wales.

Image by ADHD CENTER via Flickr

 

 

Perth is the world’s only ADHD child drugging hotspot to have experienced a massive (60%+) decline in child prescribing rates – simultaneous halving in the rates of amphetamine abuse amongst teenagers. Mr Whitely contends Perth’s experience is “unequivocal evidence supporting the commonsense proposition that prescribing amphetamines facilitates their abuse.”

Whitely attributes Perth’s massive decline in ADHD prescribing rates to tighter prescribing accountability measures and a robust local media debate about the validity of the diagnosis and the safety and efficacy of the drugs. He claims “Sydney, Brisbane and Hobart are vying for the title of Australia’s new child drugging capital because they haven’t learned from Perth’s mistakes; they are repeating them.”

Speed Up and Sit Still, covers complex material in an easy-to-read format aimed at parents, teachers, medical professionals, policy setters and the community at large.

To purchase Speed Up and Sit Still visit www.speedupsitstill.com

Forthcoming Blogs Beginning November 15

Monday November 15 – ADHD child prescribing numbers by State: Sydney, Brisbane and Hobart vie for title as Australia’s Child drugging Capital.

Monday November 22 – Patrick McGorry’s plans for early intervention in psychosis – a Stitch in Time or a Stitch Up?

Monday November 29- One year on and what action has the Gillard Government taken on the discredited National ADHD Guidelines ?

Monday December 22- New Research; beating boredom a key to keeping kids ADHD drug free (by guest blogger Dr Nigel Williams).

Note; All authors proceeds from the book are donated to Drug Free Attention difficulties Support Inc. DFADS (www.dfads.org) a not for profit support group for parents wishing to try drug free approaches for children with attentional and behavioural difficulties.

Related articles

• Adderall Alters Brain, Claims a Young Life (abcnews.go.com)

Australia Mental Health funding left wanting as boffins get $24 million to study historical events

CoMHWA News Alert

Dear all,

You may be interested to see à UWA gets mucho dinero for researching the emotions of people from the past who died of the Black death.

This raises many questions. If only such sums of money could be dedicated to assist people today in mental health and the community. To perhaps help people find the inner resilience to keep on going and recover. Sadly too many lose the fight. Let us all support the push to raise such sums for the present day need!!!

Courier Mail: Mental health funding left wanting as boffins get $24 million to study historical events

· Last updated: November 07, 2010

• David Murray
• From: The Sunday Mail (Qld)
• November 07, 2010 12:00AM

TAXPAYERS will fork out $24 million for boffins to study emotions from hun

Australian of the Year Patrick McGorry

 

dreds of years ago while mental health research in modern Australia is desperately underfunded.

The Federal Government is promoting the massive humanities grant, which will focus on historical events such as the Black Death, as a solution to the nation’s dire mental health problems.

But Australian of the Year Patrick McGorry has criticised the lack of direct funding for mental health research.

“The Government needs to match this very generous research investment into the history of emotions with investment in the present day,” Prof McGorry said.

“That would fund an incredible transformation in mental health of young people if we were able to get a grant like that.”

The record-breaking Australian Research Council grant over seven years is more than three times the previous highest amount given to a humanities project. Four separate requests for modest funding to establish centres for research excellence in mental health were recently rejected by the National Health and Medical Research Council.

“Only 3 per cent of the National Health and Medical Research Council budget is devoted to mental health research and it’s about 14 per cent of the health burden,” Prof McGorry said yesterday.

The same money would also pay for the annual salaries of 440 new teachers, 320 nurses or 25,600 chemotherapy procedures.

Instead the grant will go to the new Centre of Excellence in the History of Emotions based at the University of Western Australia.

Researchers will focus on emotions in Europe from the years 1100 to 1800, taking in events such as the French revolution, according to the university’s website.

Centre director and historian Philippa Maddern’s key study areas will include the emotional response to the Black Death, which killed about half the population of 14th century Europe. “We know those communities survived that shock . . . I think there’s value to be made out of how did they do it,” Prof Maddern told the Campus Review newspaper.

A related Shakespearean drama production, a Baroque opera and an art exhibition will be produced as part of the research grant.

Federal Innovation, Industry, Science and Research Minister Senator Kim Carr linked the project to statistics showing almost half of Australians aged 16 to 85 years had suffered a mental disorder.

“That is why it is critical that we fund research into the way we deal with everyday problems,” Senator Carr said in a press release last month.

Australian Research Council chief executive Professor Margaret Sheil said the grant was supported by the full committee and had attracted plaudits from around the world.

“It was ranked very near to the top out of 110 bids from across the country across all disciplines,” Prof Sheil said.

“I don’t have any concerns about the size of the grant.”

Researchers from the universities of Queensland, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide also will be involved, alongside counterparts from Sweden, Germany, Switzerland and Britain.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/lifestyle/health/mental-health-funding-left-wanting-as-boffins-get-24-million-to-study-historical-events/story-e6frer7f-1225948828704

Kind Regards
Lyn

Lyn Mahboub: Chairperson CoMHWA
on behalf of Consumers of Mental Health WA (Inc)
(A WA based Mental Health Consumer Organisation)

PO Box 682, Bentley WA 6982, Ph: 9350 8824 (Message)
Email: comhwa_inc Website: www.rfwa.org.au

ABN: 95 581 286 940

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At the start of Seniors’ Week in Australia – an old man’s poem sent to me that was tough to read on air last night – wonderful stuff

From Glen at the start of seniors week Image via Wikipedia When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a nursing home in  GRASS VALLEY , CA. it was believed that he had nothing left of any value. Later, when the nurses were going through his meager possessions, they found this poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff that copies were made and distributed to every nurse in the hospital One nurse took her copy to   Missouri.

The old man’s sole bequest to posterity has since appeared in the Christmas edition of the News Magazine of the St. Louis Association for Mental Health. A slide presentation has also been made based on his simple, but eloquent, poem.

And this little old man, with nothing left to give to the world, is now the author of this ‘anonymous’ poem winging across the Internet.

Crabby Old Man…THE RIPPER

What do you see nurses? . . .. .. . What do you see?

What are you thinking . . . . . when you’re looking at me?

A crabby old man . . . . . not very wise,

Uncertain of habit . . . . with faraway eyes?

Who dribbles his food . . . . . and makes no reply.

When you say in a loud voice . . . . . ‘I do wish you’d try!’

Who seems not to notice . . . . the things that you do.

And forever is losing . . . . . A sock or shoe?

Who, resisting or not . . . . . lets you do as you will,

With bathing and feeding . . . . . The long day to fill?

Is that what you’re thinking? . . . . Is that what you see?

Then open your eyes, nurse . . . . . you’re not looking at me.

I’ll tell you who I am. . . . . As I sit here so still,

As I do at your bidding, . . . . . as I eat at your will.

I’m a small child of Ten . . . . . with a father and mother,

Brothers and sisters . . . . who love one another.

A young boy of Sixteen . . . . with wings on his feet.

Dreaming that soon now . . . . . a lover he’ll meet.

A groom soon at Twenty . . . . . my heart gives a leap.

Remembering, the vows . . . . . that I promised to keep.

At Twenty-Five, now . . . . . I have young of my own.

Who need me to guide . . . . . And a secure happy home.

A man of Thirty . . . . . My young now grown fast,

Bound to each other . . . . . With ties that should last.

At Forty, my young sons . . .. . . have grown and are gone,

But my woman’s beside me . . . . . to see I don’t mourn.

At Fifty, once more, babies play ’round my knee,

Again, we know children . . . . . My loved one and me.

Dark days are upon me . . . . . my wife is now dead.

I look at the future . . . . . shudder with dread.

For my young are all rearing . . . . young of their own.

And I think of the years . . . . . and the love that I’ve known.

I’m now an old man . . . . and nature is cruel.

Tis jest to make old age . . . . . look like a fool.

The body, it crumbles . . . . . grace and vigor, depart.

There is now a stone . . . . where I once had a heart.

But inside this old carcass . . . . . a young guy still dwells,

And now and again . . . . . my battered heart swells.

I remember the joys . . . . . I remember the pain.

And I’m loving and living . . . . life over again.

I think of the years, all too few . . . . . gone too fast.

And accept the stark fact . . . . that nothing can last.

So open your eyes, people . . . . open and see.

Not a crabby old man . . . Look closer . . . see ME!!

Remember this poem when you next meet an older person who you might brush aside without looking at the young soul within.

We will all, one day, be there, too!

Meanwhile click here to hear a brilliant song on a similar passage of life theme – the amazing Bonnie Raitt & Jackson Browne

HOW TO: Use Twitter Lists to Promote Nonprofits and Causes You Care About (via Nonprofit Tech 2.0 :: A Social Media Guide for Nonprofits)

Great ideas – please tweet or email any NGOs & Not for Profits you know of, anywhere in the world.

We have great Mental health and Environment tweeters in US, UK, Australia and a few from elsewhere…but we’d love to connect with activist in Africa, Asia, Europe and South America.

Twitter’s new Lists are a great way to organize your followers, and with a little intention and a dose of good will, Twitter Lists can also be used to promote your favorite nonprofits and the causes you care about. Here’s how: 1) Create a “Favorite Nonprofits” List Lists can say a lot about your character and what’s important to you. Personally, I am quite saddened by the rapid loss of wildlife around the world, so my “Favorite Nonprofits” list h … Read More

Image via Wikipedia

Image via CrunchBase

via Nonprofit Tech 2.0 :: A Social Media Guide for Nonprofits

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Lesley Dewar speaks about the GetUp candlelit vigil #vigil6100 and Johnathon Cooke live from Mission Australia’s Wintersleepout

Tanyia Maxted, John Cooke, Me & Lesley Dewar @ #wintersleepout 2010

Perth writer, activist and top tweeter Lesley Dewar

( @LesleyDewar on twitter ) joined us on 6PR to talk

about the upcoming Victoria Park Candle-lit vigil to remember

those lost to suicide and support those left behind.

Please click the blue link for the  interview with Lesley Dewar on the  Mental Health Vigil

Join us at Burswood Park this Tue Aug 10 at 5.30 pm and go to http://www.getup.org.au/community/gettogethers/series.php?id=29 for details and how your local community can take part.

John Cooke Interview for 6PR on the excellent Winter Sleepout

Mission Australia‘s Winter Sleepout is about raising funds and awareness of the thousands of children and adults living on the streets. Hear John Cooke from Professional Public Relations (@freocookster on twitter  ) as we cover why the sleepout isn’t about well off people sleeping “rough” for a few hours.

Also on 6PR Alex Kempthorne spoke to us about an upcoming event for the Green Network – a great group that brings resource companies and environmental firms together.

Alex Kempthorne from Liberty resources on the W.A. Green Network

Mental Health isn’t a prority for Kevin Rudd…is he nuts! Mendoza resignation disappointing but not surprising: Greens

Image via Wikipedia

Mendoza resignation disappointing but not surprising: Greens

Image via Wikipedia

The Australian Greens say John Mendoza’s resignation as the Prime Minister’s main mental health advisor is disappointing but not surprising given the Government’s ongoing failure to adequately invest in mental health services.

Senator Rachel Siewert, Australian Greens spokesperson for Mental Health understands John Mendoza’s frustration with the Government.

“It is an indictment on the Federal Government that John Mendoza’s expertise has been lost. I share his deep concern about the Government’s continued lack of investment in the area of mental health,” Senator Siewert said today.

“Experts say that $5 billion of new funding is needed to bring our mental health services up to scratch and yet the Government has fallen short of this investment,” said Senator Siewert.

“The Australian Greens have been consistently calling on the Government increase it’s investment in mental health and we’ve put forward a number of key initiatives which would see this occur.

“The Government missed an opportunity in its health reform package by failing to adequate address mental health. They need to go back and fix this as a matter of urgency.

“The Government can no longer ignore the growing mental health crisis in Australian,” Senator Siewert concluded.

<<Mendoza resignation disappointing but not surprising- Greens – MEDIA RELEASE 20062010.doc>>

Chris Redman

Media Officer
Senator Rachel Siewert – Australian Greens Senator for WA

P: (08) 9228 3277 | www.greensmps.org.au

image.jpg

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Join us in making a difference in mental health and ending stigma – follow @MHSMchat and @WEGOAmy on twitter and please visit, comment on the blogs listed below

You can make a difference, visit, comment, share with us as a guest writer

http://mhsmchat.wordpress.com/

http://www.wegohealth.com/

click here for some of my mental health posts

on twitter follow these awesome activists;

@MHSMchat

@WEGOAmy

@gordonglenn

@susanmees

and please, see who we are connected to for many more great folk to join forces with

Important news for activists, advocates and old hippie geeks :) “Camp Obama” coming to Perth via getup.org.au

Via the team at GetUp

Image via Wikipedia

The Obama campaign was one of the most successful on-the-ground campaigns in history. Millions of volunteers took the campaign to their neighbours and friends. Their secret? ‘Camp Obama’.

At ‘Camp Obama’ volunteers around the United States learnt how to integrate powerful stories with strategy and skills. Meeting each other at a million points of hope and energy, these stories transformed a political campaign into a popular movement. Now we’re bringing this powerful training to Perth.

We’ve already seen in the lead-up to the federal election that we’re back to politics as usual: sound bites, spin doctors and media pundits ignoring real people and their stories. This is the opportunity to learn the secret weapon of the Obama campaign so we can work together to make a massive impact this election.

Yes, I’m interested in attending the Community Organising Workshop.

Where: Venue TBA – somewhere in Central Perth
When: 15th and 16th of May
Registration cut off: 10th of May
Cost: $20 (this is to cover costs and includes lunch)
Spaces are limited — don’t miss out!

Click here to read the draft agenda and apply for the Community Organising Workshop

When you arrive on Saturday morning you’ll be greeted by an enthusiastic group of highly caffeinated facilitators. You’ll mingle with members of various organisations, like the Conservation Council of WA and the Union Climate Connectors. You might even be surprised to find one of your neighbours there.

And there will be a moment that day–when the room falls silent and your breath catches in your throat, as a story captures you completely. Often it’s the quiet person in the room that manages to blow everyone away. Last year, in Adelaide it was a story about the struggle to speak out against homophobia from within the church. In Sydney, an engineer who gained the courage, and learnt the skills, to talk with his coal-mining company colleagues about new directions.

With the looming federal election just months away, the skills, strategies and stories you’ll learn to tell will give you a powerful voice on issues from climate change to refugees. Click here if you’re interested in coming along, and we’ll give you a call to talk about the workshop:

Click here to find out more and apply for the Community Organising Workshop

The spin doctors, attack ads and focus group tested sound bites are waiting in the wings. Media pundits have their eyes on the political horse race, ignoring the people affected by the policies they squabble over. In this campaign, we will tell the stories of these people. Together we will provide the passion, humanity and energy so absent in the practiced smiles and hollow lines of our politicians.

Hope to see you,

Sara, for the GetUp team

PS – Can’t make the workshop but still want to be involved in the election campaign? Click here.

Australian Mental Health at a critical stage, you can make a difference today and tomorrow wherever you are – WA: will Premier Barnett stand up for mental health?

Mental ill health is the leading killer of Australians under 45 and the leading cause of disability for all Australians.

Premier Barnettt, PM Rudd

But with the biggest health reforms in decades up for negotiation on Monday, mental ill health may be forgotten – unless we act now.

In just 48 hours, the Prime Minister and the leaders of every Australian state and territory will sit down in Canberra to negotiate a new plan for healthcare across the nation.

In their offices across Australia, our state Premiers and territory Chief Ministers are working all weekend in preparation for Monday’s meeting. They are deciding where to push hard, and where to compromise.

We’ve found the office fax number for WA Premier, Colin Barnett

We all want to see reform of our hospitals. But tackling mental health will require more than increasing the number of beds in our hospitals, or changing the source of health funding. More of the same won’t work.

There are solutions. Here’s just one example: there are 30 Government run Headspace centres across Australia. An extra $100million a year would expand capacity in these centres and build an extra 60 across the nation. This alone would double the number of young Australians receiving treatment for mental ill health.

On Monday, the PM will need every Premier on board, so here in WA, Colin Barnett will have huge influence. These decisions are being made in his office right now – let’s fill it with faxes asking him not to come home without mental health care reform:
www.getup.org.au/campaign/healthreform&id=1033

There must be no health reform without mental health reform. Together we can make sure this silent disease, which half of us will experience in our lifetime, is on the agenda at Monday’s crucial meeting of all levels of Australian Government.

Thanks for all that you do,
TheGetUp team

PS –

We’ve joined forces with Australian of the year, mental health expert Professor Patrick McGorry to call for mental health reform.

Already, tens of thousands of GetUp members have petitioned the Prime Minister and raised $85,000 for the campaign to put our message on TV.

Now it is our state Premiers who hold the keys to reform – click here contact yours now.

3 amazing people on twitter joined me on Perth’s 6pr.com.au 882 6pr last weekend – Poet & activist Lesley Dewar, Advocate and #mhsm convenor Amy Kiel and Steve Andrews about his black dog ride this Sunday

Perth Poet & Activist Lesley Dewar uses the net to share and promote creative people and activist causes – and she’s having a ball!

follow Lesley on twitter by clicking here

visit her website by clicking here

Kansas City (Mo) Mental Health Advocate and #mhsm convenor Amy Kiel is amazing – join us 1000pm Eastern US time Tuesday, 1000am West Australian time to share and gather info, resources and inspiration from people around the globe.

click here to follow Amy on twitter

Please visit Amy’s blog by clicking here

From the South West of W. Australia Steve Andrews talks about about his black dog ride this Sunday, he’s even getting the State Health Minister to saddle up on a donated BMW to raise awareness of depression and raise funds for Busselton advocates LAMP

Click here to follow Steve

please visit Steve’s site by clicking here

Amazing Documentary covering; brain function ( Mental Health in old language ), psychology,depression and lots more -

Image via CrunchBase

Image via Wikipedia

Image via Wikipedia

The ABC Australia

Programme aired tonight was called “Stress: Portrait of a Killer”

An extremely powerful documentary.

The research resonated with my personal experience and observations as a long time journalist about stress and how it affects us right down to the end of our little telemeres

So refreshing to see unhyped, in-depth research that’s presented engagingly and totally relevant to all of us TODAY.

For those who missed it, look for it on abc.net.au/iView but I’m not sure it is available outside Australia on that link.

Anyone outside Oz please let me know if you can access the videos on the site.

It should be compulsory viewing for lawmakers and medical professionals, and is compelling viewing for the 50% of us directly affected by brain function irregularities.

There is a growing understanding that brain function goes wonky for everyone at sometime and one day the term “mental health” will be ditched and ideas of behaviour will not be exclusively linked to our spirt or soul. Rather they’ll be recognised as variations with complex causes but, thankfully, means of identification, prevention and recovery.

I was interested to see various sections of serious and rigorous research confirming what all we advocates know – that helping others can change your brain function.

It’s often draining, but it’s such a buzz having walked and crawled a dark and deadly path, to light the way for those who follow.

I’d love to hear what others think, and see what resonated for you.

Meanwhile – please help with resources, media and info

By the way I am still collecting survival tips from those who’ve survived and coped with depression; post-natal, PTSD, bipolar or any other variant, or panic and anxiety.

From this weekend I will  have set up a recorder at the following number in australia +61 8 94679885  or you can Skype Perthtones to record about  5 minutes of help for others trying to cope with their day or minute.

Image via Wikipedia

I am focussing solely on tools or treatments that are totally free or are or provided by NGOs selfhelpers etc -

There will be time for professionals and service providers another time – this is for those of us coping with it by those of us coping with it.

• Part 1 getting through this dark moment – the now
• Part 2 getting through the next few days with all their challenges – medium term
• Part 3  recovery and building resilience – long term

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NAMI Raises Voice For Mental Health – let’s talk lobbying and effective campaigning

Well done @NAMI for your work ( see story below )

A Healthy Blog » NAMI Raises Voice For Mental Health.

Tuesday night (USA) Wednesday morning (W. Australia) we plan to talk lobbying and effective campaigning – share success stories, and adopt the Greens strategy of thinking globally and acting locally.

please follow @MHSMchat

MHSM is Mental Health Social Media and we are mostly people who’ve travelled the rocky road and hope to light the way for others.

please follow @MHSMchat

Please follow our #mhsm convenor Amy at @MHSMchat

please follow @MHSMchat

We are also planning to meet via Skype conference call in the near future and set up a global clearing house for resources on brain health, healing and recovery.

please follow @MHSMchat

Anyone who derives income from providing MH services is asked to declare that as they join, and any other potential conflicts of interest or bias need to be on the table too.

please follow @MHSMchat

Many #mhsm crew are doing amazing work already, the chat is about us sharing, not re-inventing the wheel and forging effective networks for effective change.

please follow @MHSMchat

There has never been a better time for those of us who’ve been or are ill to have our voices heard and to effect much needed change and public education.

please follow @MHSMchat

As a local colleague says ” nothing about us without us”

please follow @MHSMchat

Geeks, bloggers, journalists and sponsors are especially welcome, because right now a very few are doing a lot more than might be good for them, so please help lighten the load if you can.

please follow @MHSMchat

more tomorrow

cheers and thanks

tony ( @perthtones )

click here for more from this blog on mental health, including resources and audio

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Join the Australian of the year, GetUp and scores of Mental Health Activists and Advocates to move from apathy to action

Image via Wikipedia

Everyone has Mental Health, some are crazy enough to think it’s not important.

The following is being circulated and acted on by many of us who’ve worked for decades for little or no improvement in Mental Health.

“This affects all of us: half of all Australians will experience mental ill health in our lifetimes; but most won’t discuss it, and most won’t receive treatment.

We need a national discussion about mental health — please forward Professor McGorry’s message to your friends, family and colleagues today.

— message to forward —

The Australian of the Year has broken ranks to record this video message to you about a topic we rarely discuss. Click hereto view his message.

Dear Friend,

Half of us will experience mental ill health in our lifetime. Of your friends, family and colleagues, about 1 in 5 will suffer in this year alone – but most won’t discuss it, and most won’t receive treatment.

The largest healthcare reform in decades is on the cards this year – but without our support, mental health may be forgotten. This week Kevin Rudd and Tony Abbott debated healthcare for over an hour; neither mentioned mental health once.

Solutions are within our grasp. Hundreds of thousands of young Australians who desperately need help could receive it, if existing programs are expanded. Today, the Australian of the Year, Patrick McGorry, launches a campaign in partnership with GetUp. Click below to watch his message, share it with friends, and add your voice to his call:

www.getup.org.au/health

Take the number of young Australians killed in road accidents and double it: still more lives are ended prematurely by mental ill health. It is the leading killer of Australians under 45, and the leading cause of disability in Australia.

But two thirds of those who suffer never receive treatment; and for young men that figure is 90%. We wouldn’t let this happen for cancer, or heart disease – or even for elective surgery. Our mental health system is in desperate need of reform.

To their credit recent governments have supported innovation and investment in early intervention services for young people. However, there are many overdue investments in mental health reform which are ready to go. We need a much stronger community mental health system. We need to set a target of reducing suicide to zero in a decade, and invest heavily in a national education campaign to match the campaign on road deaths.

With health reform on the agenda, this year is our chance to achieve real mental healthcare reform – but as Patrick says, “if it’s going to happen, politicians need to hear from you.”

Watch his video message to GetUp members and take action here:

www.getup.org.au/health

GetUp members expose the truth, begin conversations and campaign for real change where others duck for cover. But there’s one crisis in this country we’ve never spoken about: mental ill health. Now’s the time to put it on the national agenda.

With hope,
The GetUp Team.

P.S. A senior official in Government told us just weeks ago that they are under little pressure for progressive change on healthcare – yet this will be one of the biggest issues in this election. In a year when massive changes to our healthcare system are on the table, we can’t let that be the case. “

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• Mental health beds closed over psychiatrist shortage (ctv.ca)
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• Mental health system fails times two. (depressionmarathon.blogspot.com)

Those abused in state care abandoned by the W.A. and Federal Governments as the UK apologises

The Peak Child Abuse group ASCA today tweeted the news of  British PM Gordon Brown’s apology to Australian child migrants acknoweldging it’s crucial to healing

~

please click the blue link for the UK angle

“ http://bit.ly/aoM64h via @ASCAORG > urgent action needed 4 #redress 2 “

~

Labor and Liberal have failed at federal and state levels to discover a modicum of compassion.

~

Kevin Rudd was on twitter today congratulating the aussie girl who won olympic gold in the ski aerials, saying gee we’ll have to set up a new ski facility won’t we.

~

I had the temerity to reply on twitter

” @KevinRuddPM So if I win Gold at the Olympics, you cold fund some community mental health facilities – I’m starting training now Kevin! ”

~

Taxpayer’s money is used to stage boxing matches (btw I MC martial arts and support boxing ) build footy stadia, freshen up our dullsville foreshore and there’s always lots of taxcash when it comes to self promoting “government” commercials.

For WA’s Barnett/Buswell and the previous Labor wombats to halve compensation for victims of abuse in state care is disgusting.

~

Meanwhile, mainstream media is so tabloid and dollar driven that these issues are skimmed over or ignored, but gee my colleagues like to have a mass debate over daylight saving or shopping hours – day and night!

~

Nevertheless I am an eternal optimist ( sometimes a bit jaded ) and have high hopes for activism and advocacy on the net through media like this blog and on twitter.

~

So please join in, add a comment, ask a few questions of your local “member” and raise your voice for those who’ve already died as well as those currently in dire need.

~

The state government, meanwhile has announced that victims who are expected to die before christmas will get their meagre share of the halved compo package earlier than the others – really, it’s in the letter

Letter from Redress – click the image to visit the Govt website

It IS life or death – and for far too many of us.

tony

Help and info for people dealing with depression,panic,schizophrenia and other mental health issues – Consumer Organisation CoMHWA’s Update and good news (please forward to your networks)

West Australians now have an authentic voice on mental health issues, please share the brochure below with your contacts and join/support this vital work.

I will be hosting a mental health forum at the end of March at the Wembley Convention Centre focussed on providing info on free and useful treatment and management approaches for those affected by mental illness.

Parts of the forum will be videod to share with people who are house-bound or living outside the city.

If you have a friend or loved one affected by depression,anxiety, panic or bipolar, come along to find out how much there is that can be done to save lives and improve life quality.

cheers
tony

Information Circular No 2 February 2010 A West Australian Based Mental Health Consumer Organisation CoMHWA Consumers of Mental Health WA (Inc) Mental Illness is a pause…not the end! GREAT NEWS!! Lotterywest Grant Received It is with delight that we advise members and our supporters of CoMHWA that we have been successful in receiving a positive result from our grant application to Lotterywest. We have received funding to the value of $17, 024.00 for: § Computer equipment § Governance training for the management committee § Professional strategic and business planning This is very exciting as it means it is possible for us to demonstrate to potential funding bodies a strong plan for the future so as to secure ongoing funding. The idea of having an independent Strategic Planning specialist work with us to do a Strategic Plan means we can make professional plans for the future that work toward making CoMHWA a comprehensive and vital consumer run organisation. § In doing our Strategic Plan our planning specialist will first read and consider carefully the results of the consultations with consumers undertaken over the last several years. Much of this consultation feedback informed the current CoMHWA objectives. We feel this review is important as part of the process of setting plans for the future. § In doing our Strategic Plan we will meet with members and other consumers in the community so people can have an opportunity to have input into the strategic plan (stay tuned for more details). § In carrying out our Strategic Plan we will demonstrate our ability to be a powerful representative voice for mental health consumers in WA. In the meantime we ask people to keep cheering for us and please remember that if we work together amazing things can happen. Other steps are being planned and we will keep you up to date. CoMHWA currently We remain an unfunded organisation and it has been up to a small group of dedicated people over several years to get this far. We all are unpaid and each volunteers time and knowledge to build a WA based mental health consumer organisation carries out our mission and objectives (for more on CoMHWA’s objectives and values click). We would like to assure our members and supporters that we are working really hard behind the scenes and forging ahead. We are proud of our efforts and excited that they have been fruitful thanks to the support of our members, Richmond Fellowship WA, WAAMH, and Lotterywest who are behind us all the way. If any members want to get involved and help, we welcome your expertise or if anyone in the community would like to join in please feel welcome to become a member (membership forms downloadable from our webpage). Our hope is that with a professional strategic plan and business plan we can then secure additional funding to employ someone who will carry out some of the business of the organisation and look for recurrent funding. We wish you all well. Kind Regards on behalf of the CoMHWA Management Committee More Info on CoMHWA ** Please see our latest newsletters online CoMHWA (Inc) invites new members Contact us today or see our application forms and newsletters online Contact Consumers of Mental Health WA (Inc) C/- PO Box 682, BENTLEY, WA 6982 Ph: 9350 8824 (message) Email: comhwa_inc Webpage link from: www.rfwa.org.au Direct link <click here> ABN: 95581286940

Consumers of Mental Health WA (Inc) CoMHWA

‘mental illness is a pause…not the end’

C/- PO Box 682

BENTLEY WA 6982

(08) 9350 8824 (message)

Webpage Link from: www.rfwa.org.au

Email: comhwa_inc

CoMHWA_Information Circular No 2_Print version.pdf

Australian Greens call for action on ADHD Medication danger

Australian Greens call for action on ADHD

Senator Rachel Siewert has called for a review of the use of ADHD medication following publication of a report from the University of Western Australia that suggests the use of stimulant medication for children not only fails to help them academically but may also harm them physically.

“We know that medication rates for children suffering from Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder have soared since the last decade, with more than 20,000 West Australians using stimulants – a prescription rate that ranks amongst the highest in the world,” Senator Siewert said.

“Stimulant medication in the short-term does increase blood pressure, but of more concern is the fact that those who’ve had stimulant medication in the past, even if they weren’t currently having it, still had blood pressure rates which were even higher.

“Health experts have urged the government to have ADHD treatment evaluated by experts without links to drug firms. And we know that the National Health and Medical Research Council have drafted a rethink of the guidelines on how ADHD should be treated.

“But consumers are going to be concerned by the findings in this new report and the Health Minister Nicola Roxon has yet to clarify the government’s recommendations on ADHD,” she concluded.

Fernando de Freitas
Media Advisor

Office of Scott Ludlam & Rachel Siewert

Australian Greens Senators for Western Australia

Suite S1.36 Parliament House, Canberra ACT
P: 02 6277 3467 |

Fernando.defreitas
www.GreensMPs.org.au

10 Common Myths About Clinical Depression – guest post

Image via Wikipedia

10 Common Myths About Clinical Depression

Almost every mental illness ends up accompanied by a barrage of myths, misunderstandings, and misconceptions that cloud the minds of the populace and ultimately produces muddied opinions of the true threat.

Unfortunately, one of the most marginalized and ridiculed conditions is also one of the most common. An estimated 17 million Americans suffer from some form of clinical depression a year, most of whom end up never seeking psychological assistance due to feeling undermined and discouraged by the perceptions of society at large.

Because those suffering from depression run a much higher risk of committing suicide or acts of self-mutilation than their comparatively healthier peers, it is absolutely integral to understand the complexities and widespread influence of the disease.

Only by making an earnest effort to combat these negative and patently false perceptions can the depressed begin to realize that no shame or weakness lay in their situation, thereby removing many of the stigmas and reservations still undeservedly attached to entering into therapy.

click the link below for the

10 Common Myths About Clinical Depression.

from Angela Petersen  at  http://onlinepsychologydegrees.org

Unlocking Mysteries Of The Brain With PET

Science Daily article on using PET scans to better understand  brain function, especially the inflammatory response of brain cells

Unlocking Mysteries Of The Brain With PET.

Adapted from materials provided by Society of Nuclear Medicine.

Hospital suicide: No room in mental health unit – ABC News Article link.

Hospital suicide: No room in mental health unit

Monday, November 2, 2009

An inquest into the suicide of a patient has heard there was no room for him in the mental health unit of a south-west New South Wales hospital.

Former Win TV cameraman Justin Berkhour was found hanging behind the curtain of a cubicle in the Wagga Wagga Base Hospital emergency department in July 2007.

To view on a PC/Mac please use this link

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/11/02/2730332.htm

To view on a mobile please use this link

http://m.abc.net.au/browse?page=11144&articleid=2730332&cat=Justin

from @perthtones’ iPhone

HELP AUSTRALIAN ADULT SURVIVORS TO UNTANGLE THE KNOT OF CHILD ABUSE & Win tickets to the Big Apple by supporting ‘FORGET ME KNOT DAY’- Friday 13th November

HELP AUSTRALIAN ADULT SURVIVORS TO UNTANGLE THE KNOT OF CHILD ABUSE & Win tickets to the Big Apple by supporting ‘FORGET ME KNOT DAY’- Friday 13th November

ASCA Knot Day Pin

MEDIA RELEASE

Win tickets to the Big Apple by supporting

‘FORGET ME KNOT DAY’- Friday 13th November

HELP AUSTRALIAN ADULT SURVIVORS

TO UNTANGLE THE KNOT OF CHILD ABUSE

26th October 2009: Participants in the inaugural Forget-me-knot Day celebrations, on Friday 13th November, could win two tickets to fly to New York to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art.

Part of an International Week For Prevention of Child Abuse, Forget-me-knot Dayhas been established by Adults Surviving Child Abuse (ASCA) to encourage Australians to show their support for the two million+ adult Australians[i] personally affected by childhood abuse, as.

The Symbol:

The knot in ‘Forget me knot’ Day symbolises the ‘tangle’ of childhood abuse, which in most cases is a lifelong challenge for the survivor to unravel. As a society, we forget that abused children grow up – and for many adulthood is when they are first able to confront the issue of abuse and begin to heal the emotional scars. Unfortunately, the shame around abuse can prevent adult survivors disclosing and others from reaching out to them.

The impact of child abuse is not just felt by the children. The adults they become, their families, their partners and their community are all impacted by this tragedy. More than eight million Australian community members are directly affected by child abuse. In a population of 22 million, this is a staggering figure.

The Competition:

As part of the ‘Forget me knot’ Day campaign,ASCA invites all Australians to submit photographs of any object tied in a blue tangled knot to go in the draw to win a trip for two to New York, including two economy airfares, two nights’ accommodation and free entry to the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art, New York. The competition is active now and entries close midnight on Friday 6th November. Submissions can be made online at www.asca.org.au/competition. The competition winner will be announced on Forget-me-knot Day, Friday 13th November.

ASCA Chair Dr Cathy Kezelman said “We chose the knot to help explain the struggle or ‘tangle’ survivors encounter as they live with and attempt to overcome the damage inflicted by childhood abuse. As a society we can find the trauma of childhood abuse difficult to comprehend; so it is often ignored, left unspoken and unaddressed. To help engage people in this very real issue, we chose a public art competition to encourage thinking, discussion and debate about a challenge faced by more than two million adult Australians. Artists, creative thinkers and even laypeople can often explore and connect with complex issues through art and a trip to New York is a wonderful incentive to encourage people to engage in this discussion. I look forward to seeing the results.”

Forget-Me-Knot Day Campaign Components:

Through a range of activities including a national petition, a photographic competition, a ceremony of connection which involves the unravelling of a mammoth knot on an iconic Sydney building, ASCA’s ‘Forget-me-knot Day’ raises awareness of this struggle, and gives all Australians an opportunity to donate, and help adult survivors to reconnect with their community. Details can be found here www.asca.org.au/forgetmeknot

People can also order the official blue tangled knots pins from the ASCA website www.asca.org.au/forgetmeknot and donate to help survivors overcome their trauma and reconnect with their community.

The Solution:

With the right help and support, survivors can find their way through the tangle of child abuse and find a sense of health and wellbeing and re-engage positively in their communities. Listening, understanding and supporting are critical to the healing process. ASCA is a core part of the solution, delivering evidence-based workshops to adult survivors of child abuse, and workshops for health practitioners to inform treatment of survivors of child abuse around Australia.

Media Contact: Amanda McGregor ph: (02) 9492 1004 mb: 0411 222 311

About ASCA: (www.asca.org.au) (www.asca.org.au/forgetmeknot)

ASCA is a charity which focuses exclusively on advancing the needs of the more than 2 million Australian adults surviving child abuse. ASCA was formed in 1995 and its current activities encompass: a 1300 information/support line – 1300 657 380, website, newsletters for survivors and health professionals, workshops for survivors and their supporters, education and training programs for health care professionals and frontline workers. ASCA is currently developing a national network of services and practitioners with the experience and expertise to specifically address survivors’ needs. ASCA is the key national Australian organization to support adults who have experienced all forms of child abuse and neglect, and receives no ongoing government funding.

(attached: Image of Forget Me Knot Day Pin)

Amanda McGregor

Mental Health Minister to address noon rally, can’t say what staff cuts have & will be made – Alison Xamon MLC Media Release

Alison Xamon MLC

MEMBER FOR THE EAST METROPOLITAN REGION

P.O. BOX 104, MAYLANDS, WESTERN AUSTRALIA 6931
PHONE (08) 9275 7474 – FAX (08) 9275 7574

The W.A. Mental Health Minister has told Parliament he doesn’t know what cuts to staff and services have been made in his portfolio as those behind the cuts of at last 13%,Troy Buswell and Colin Barnett, talk shopping hours.
mp3 audio cut 3 lays out the spin and distraction being put out by the Premier & Treasurer and runs 20 secs

Greens MLC Alison Xamon last night asked the Minister what cuts to staff and resources had been made and what cuts are coming. The reply was to the effect that it would take “some time” to provide answers.
mp3 audio Alison on his reaction and runs 25 secs

Ms Xamon also moved an Urgency Motion, supported by the Opposition, calling on the Government to spell out its plans for the sector.
mp3 Audio Ms Xamon explaining that the Mental Health Minister has little Idea what his Premier and Treasurer have done and have planned – runs 23 secs

Organisers of the midday rally to overturn the dedly cuts say they’ve been approached by the Minister, asking if he can speak to them as they deliver a petition to the Lower House.
mp3 Audio Alison on people in the public and private sector being fed up with spin and lack of answers to urgent questions – runs 22 secs

It will be worthwhile sending reporters and cameras to the midday rally to see what happens, and to interview the Auditor General who’s due to issue a report on the prformance of the Mental Health Sector around 1pm.

mp3 audio  Alison lashing the rush to make cuts before the AG’s report is handed down, and the lack of consultation with stakeholders, staff, service providers and those who use mental health services – runs 13 secs

There will be people from public and private groups like, the HSU, WAAMH, MHC, COMIC, RUAH etc, as well as the Minister, Shadow Minister, Alison Xamon, Many of my dear 6PR listeners and Twitter friends will be there too because this is life or death for many west australians and the damage will be almost impossible to undo.

IF YOU CAN’T MAKE THE NOON RALLY

please call talkback radio TODAY ( 6PR 922 11 882 )   You can also email Colin Barnett at wa-government@dpc.wa.gov.au or  Treasurer Troy Buswell at Minister.Buswell@dpc.wa.gov.au or call the Premier’s office today on 9222 9475, Troy Buswell’s office is 9222 9111  ( contact details are from the public WA Government website )

In W. Australia – Some die waiting for a meagre measure of justice after being abused in State Care – a small vigil at Parliament today- Media Alison Xamon

Alison Xamon –

MLC for East Metropolitan

News release  (Tuesday October 13 )

Alison Xamon MLC for East Metropolitan ( Greens )

Alison Xamon has been working closely with victims of state abuse for some time and laments the dwindling number of victims able to keep a monthly vigil at State Parliament.

The MLC for East Metropolitan says the halving of a meagre ex-gratia payment, and ongoing delays in paying even that have caused hardship and heartache that add more insult to awful injury.

“At midday today  a small group of our most vulnerable people will gather as they do each month to ask the Government for a small measure of justice that has been denied for decades and then cut in half.”

They are the last few members of the Redress activists keeping a monthly vigil, those West Australians who were officially acknowledged to have been abused while in State care, and many more who were removed from families her and abroad against their will or without consent of parents.

They will gather outside state Parliament at Midday in the faint hope that the Barnett Government will re-instate the full amount of compensation awarded to them, and ensure no more victims die waiting for the mostly inadequate funds

Only a few months ago a 50 year old woman eligible for Redress, but still waiting for its meagre justice, died ( click here for the ABC story of one victim who died just 2 months ago…still waiting )The money would have helped pay for her funeral, but even that late comfort was denied to her.

The Greens MLC asks “How many more people will die waiting – waiting for the full amount of Redress funds to be re-instated – waiting again once money’s been allocated for it to actually be paid.”

Alison is asking media to speak to the bravehearts at parliament today and hear how the Government’s funding cut and payment dlay are affecting people in our community.

Audio -

Cut 1   The Greens Alison Xamon says some of those waiting for payment were hoping to use it to travel to the family they were taken from al those years ago, and they are tiring of waiting for justice.      AlisonXamonRedress1-17secs-click blue link for short mp3 audio

Cut 2  Alison Xamon, who’s worked fro some tim with victims to get some measure of justic says those still waiting include a host of people originally from the UK as well as Indigenous Australians.    click this link for mp3 audio

Cut 3 The MLC for east metropolitan Alison Xamon says these people have been through enough, and the heartless State Government must overturn the funding cuts and remove ongoing delays to payments.    Click for mp3 audio AlisonXamonRedress3-17secs

Perth Mental Health Rally midday Wednesday 14th Oct at State Parliament, please copy and sign petition below – hear Greens MH spokesperson Alison Xamon on a tragic MH Week in WA

Email from Ingrid Bentsen Background to the issue

The State Government is proposing budget to Mental Health of between 10-15%

Where people can find a petition to sign

Copy of petition attached, When completed, they need to be returned to PO box  3167 Carlisle South WA 6101on or before 12th October OR BRING THEM TO THE RALLY

3. And about the Parliament house action

ALL interested parties Consumers carers providers encouraged to attend the official hand over of the petition at

Parliament house MIDDAY 14th October.

No permits for a march have been applied for however the gathering of a large number of people at Parliament house along with media coverage should send the message loud and clear.

The intention is to show the state government we are not invisible we will not be treated like the poor cousin regarding adequate funding and we will be a strong voice for those who have none!

The media will be there and some placards available hopefully making it easier to get our message out:

• INCREASE FUNDING TO MENTAL HEALTH.

• REJECT PROPOSED CUTS

Click blue link for mp3 audio of Greens MLC Alison Xamon on a tragic Mental Health week in Perth

PETITION OPPOSING THE PROPOSED FUNDING CUTS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES

TO THE HONOURABLE THE SPEAKER AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY OF THE PARLIAMENT OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA IN PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED.

We, the undersigned, are concerned about the effect that any proposed funding cuts will have on consumers of the mental health services, their carers, families, members of the community, as well as the providers of mental health services in Western Australia

Of major concern are any cuts in relation to the much needed recovery programs, which are known to prevent re hospitalisation.

We are also concerned of the affect any proposed cuts would have on service providers, many of whom are already under funded and understaffed

We urge the State Government to oppose any such proposal and ensure that those involved in mental health will not have their health and lifestyles compromised

Secondly, we strongly urge the Legislative Assembly propose an increase in funding to raise staffing levels to a safe and effective standard

We now ask that the Legislative Assembly take every appropriate action to ensure the above.

NAME	ADDRESS	SIGNATURE

Please clearly mark envelope petition and return to Sound Psychiatric Information Network C/O

P/O Box 3167 Carlisle SOUTH WA 6101

West Australian Government “celebrates” Mental Health week with demands for spending cuts totalling 13%

Mental Health services told to cut budgets by a total of 13 %

Media Release Tuesday October 6th – Day 2 of Mental Health Week

The Barnett Government calls on Mental Health Services to cut spending by 13 per cent.

Mental Health Week

Greens Mental Health Spokesperson Alison Xamon ( MLC for East Metro http://alisonxamon.org.au ) has exposed a tragic travesty on day two of “Mental Health Week” in W.A. where Treasurer Troy Buswell is not just applying the 3% spending cut imposed across all sectors, but cutting even more deeply into MH services.

Mental Health Week

Private and public service providers as well as NGOs and consumer groups say the extra 10 per cent is due to an overspend by the “General” Health Department.

Mental Health Week

They are reluctant to speak to the media because history shows time and again that Government employees who blow the whistle are punished ,while overstretched community groups stand to lose the meagre funding they receive while delivering life and death, front-line services.

Mental Health Week

It appears the Mental Health sector is being punished for the alleged “sins” of General Health, but so far there’s no word from Colin Barnett’s Government explaining why the demandss are being made and why it’s being done without the community being informed.

Mental Health Week WEAK

One of WA’s leading advocates, Margaret Cook had this to say about the shameful revelations;

” This is a travesty!!! We have for too long put up with this kind of cut backs and treatment of the mental health services while the community has no idea what is really happening.

Mental Health Week WEAK

Due to people with mental illness remaining the shameful silent voices. It is time we remain silent no more it is not only we who are experiencing these cutbacks but the whole community.

Mental Health Week WEAK

Staff also they have jobs and family to support also and love their jobs some whom have been in them many years and dedicated their lives to them.

There are many others our children services mental health services have had drastic cuts, and don’t believe that will not impact future generations it will.

Mental Health Week WEAK

We see this daily our children being exposed to troubled parents who are traumatised by serving overseas in wars created by Zealots who our governments think they can end  century old persuasion.

Mental Health Week WEAK

This is but just one example of a government policy that ends up as a useless costly long term problem that Governments on both sides of politics have created.

Cheers Margaret Margaret Cook Mental Health Consumer Advocate/Educator

To Know The Road Ahead Ask Those Coming Back

COMIC WA Convenor Children of Mentally Ill Consumers   “

Listen to some of the news grabs from Greens MLC Alison XAMON

Alison Xamon MH frontline services mp3

Alison Xamon MH reconsider mp3

Alison Xamon MH kicking the needymp3

Alison Xamon MH no fat to cutmp3

Alison Xamon MH critical servicemp3

Alison Xamon MH call to actionmp3

Perth Workshop for families with 1 or more people living with mental llness, you are not alone :

Registration form and more detail – click here

Click the pic to visit COMIC WA – There is great support for families available.

Mental Health Forum in Perth Tuesday September 29 on plans for the coming decade – be part of the change in Western Australia September

Thank you to all the West Australians who took part in recent workshops hosted by Price Waterhouse Cooper to inform the powers that be about the urgent need for change in practice and process.

Join those steering the information process on Tuesday September 29 to hear about what happens from here. Please see the brochure below this post for details of the forum and share with your contacts.

The recent confirmation of Australia‘s suicide rate as not falling in ten years clearly shows that Governments and Service Providers have failed tragically.

No group has been failed more miserably than the First Australians, city or regional, who are suffering and dying at rates that higher than many third world countries ( don’t get me started on how little impact the Government and resource industry’s meagre efforts have had on their welfare despite making Billions from sacred land )

The deadly toll of stigma, misdiagnosis, over-drugging, ignorance,vested interests and plain inertia can’t even be measured because of the failed unwritten media rule of not reporting on suicide ( except if it’s a ratings boosting celebrity suicide )

The silence is deadly, and even offensive, as the media still gives oxygen to suicide kits and tragically wrong advice from the man known as Dr Death – under the guise of “covering” the Euthenasia debate.

A Perth woman with mental illness died horribly in Mexico after following his advice on “dignified death”, leaving her young children orphaned and a hole in the hearts of her family and community, including her since departed sister who was a dear friend of mine and the 6PR Perth radio talkback family.

Click Pic for Perthnow.com.au story