Mental Health Week: Everyone's priority

Federal Member for Mitchell, the Hon Alex Hawke MP,  has used the start of Mental Health Week (9 October – 15 October) to promote community awareness about mental health issues and remind locals in the Mitchell community about the importance of the social and emotional wellbeing of themselves, their families, loved ones and communities.

Alex Hawke said it was important for all of us, whatever our background, age or circumstances, to help each other to identify mental health issues and seek support.

We now have a range of services in the Hills district that supports the mental health needs of our community, including the Positive Vibes Foundation, led by Dr Padmini Howpage who successfully hosted a Masquerade Ball last Saturday, as part of Mental Health Awareness Month.

“Mental health is a top priority for the Turnbull Government – and we are tackling it on a range of fronts, through our ongoing mental health reform package,” Alex Hawke said.

“The Turnbull Government’s mental health reforms are aimed at providing better targeted, accessible and effective services for all Australians. The Coalition is committed to strengthening mental health care and suicide prevention with its pledge of $192 million over the next four years on new mental health care programmes.”

People of all ages, and especially people in rural and regional areas, will benefit from the Government’s mental health reforms, which include:

·         a new ‘stepped care’ model which tailors services to people’s needs;

·         a digital gateway as the first contact point for many people to find information and, where needed, referral to treatment services;

·         new ‘low intensity’ support to individuals, including mental health coaches;

·         innovative approaches to provide coordinated care for people with severe mental illness and complex care needs;

·         local planning of services, including commissioning of mental health services to fill gaps and meet local needs; and

·         greater connection between local services.

The Government’s nationwide network of localised primary health care organisations – like here in Mitchell the Hills Family General Practice at Bella Vista– will play a key role in planning and commissioning mental health services tailored to local communities’ needs.