Let’s talk about mental health
GROWING up, mum had good days and bad days. The bad days were more dark and reclusive than anything else. She would often spend long periods alone in a darkened room.
The good days were very high and energetic. They included parking her small car inside the double doors of the common room at school. It also included appearing on the front page of The Herald newspaper walking over hot coals – to the surprise of both my father and me.
The last time I saw mum she was in a mental health facility in Goulburn. The environment and the impact shocked me deeply, and it has stayed with me ever since.
To be clear, ours was a happy household growing up, but with that came the dark moments and challenges my mother faced. I was fortunate that I always knew she loved me, but at the time she just seemed a bit different.
Later on, she was diagnosed with manic depression and bipolar. Like many kids at the time, I said nothing to anybody; in fact I said nothing for more than two decades.
But now I know our story is a common one. Virtually every family in Australia is affected by mental health and its challenges.
Today is World Mental Health Day, a day on which I encourage all Australians to talk about mental health. As a nation we have made enormous progress on shedding stigma but our personal embarrassment and shame about our struggles remains. Self-stigma is the main barrier to seeking help.
This Mental Health Day, we should work on letting go of any negativity we feel towards our own or others’ mental health challenges. It is an opportunity to recognise that while feeling happy and well is always our aim, none of us is immune to periods of mental ill health. It is perfectly normal and acceptable not to feel OK.
Our government, through the nation’s institutions, organisations, schools and communities, is working to ensure everyone feels comfortable reaching out for support.
We are working to ensure help is accessible through the $5.2 billion spent on mental health this year and $1.3 billion extra funding in the past two Budgets.
Those investments form part of our Long Term National Health Plan, which aims to build the best health system in the world. But we need a new approach to mental health treatment.
We are establishing a national network of community mental health hubs. There are eight hubs currently, but that will increase over the next decade, helping to bridge the gap between the GP and the hospital, providing ongoing, multidisciplinary care.
We are refining treatments because there are many different mental health conditions and no “one size fits all” solution. Our work with eating disorders, the most deadly of psychiatric illnesses, is the first step.
From November 1, a $110 million package will enable patients with anorexia nervosa and other eating disorders to receive Medicare rebates on up to 40 psychological and 20 dietetic services per year. And six new residential eating disorder treatment centres will be established around the country, ensuring intensive, community-based care is available.
The theme of this year’s World Mental Health Day is, “Working together to prevent suicide”. It is particularly poignant, coming shortly after the release of Australia’s suicide statistics for 2018. Last year, there were more than 3040 recorded suicides.
While that is a reduction of 80, suicide remains the leading cause of death for Australians between 15 and 44. That is a national tragedy.
Australia is not alone – suicide is a global health concern and it is estimated up to 135 people may be affected by one suicide. That tells us reaching out to support someone may have a more profound impact than we imagine. Even our smallest actions – a smile, a quiet word, a message of encouragement – could save a life.
Determining how the federal, state and territory governments and communities can make a difference in these areas is a huge task being undertaken by Australia’s first National Suicide Prevention Adviser, Christine Morgan.
But we all have a role. In schools, churches, at work, online. Suicide is everyone’s concern.
It will not be a short or easy journey but as a government we are committed to providing services to deliver lasting and meaningful change. Together we can create a mentally well Australia.
Greg Hunt is the federal Minister for Health.