Mental Health Carers Voice and Carers ACT wish to express our deep concern, shock and disappointment in hearing about the grievous breech in privacy at Canberra Health Services. For mental health consumers more than any health consumer trust in health professionals to respect their privacy and dignity is central to their commitment to treatment and recovery.

To have information distributed without knowledge or consent in this way is not in accordance with our expectations of ethical, empathic or caring behaviour. We acknowledge the added frustration carers may be experiencing in the dichotomy of the release of personal and private information to an industrial partner but not to a family member or carer. 

As representatives of mental health carers, we have expressed our disappointment and concern about this breach and are closely monitoring the actions being taken to take accountability and rectify the situation. We will continue to ensure that the voices of carers are heard and that your expectations of a safe, caring and healing enviroment are in place and upheld. 

We understand that people directly impacted by this current breach and their carers have been contacted. We encourage effected carers to seek support. Please reach out to Carers ACT if you require any support or information.

Lisa Kelly
CEO

MHCV Team Update

Hi valued carers, 

Welcome to the March edition of our newsletter! We hope you're all doing well. 

It's been a busy month for the MHCV team. We recently hosted a DoNOHarm training session for carers, which was a great opportunity to learn about safe storytelling. We received some very positive feedback about the session. We also attended the Child and Youth mental health sector network meeting to collaborate on the exciting projects that are being worked on in the space.

We’re committed to ensuring the carer's voice is heard in all aspects of the mental health sector. We are actively involved in consultations and committees. We will continue to provide input into consultation material to ensure that the carer's perspective is recognised and valued. 

Early next month, we are hosting a consultation on the amendments to the Mental Health Act with the Office of Chief Psychiatrist. We encourage you to register to attend and share your thoughts on this important topic. More information on this consultation can be found here. 

As always, our voice is vital to the work we do and if you have anything you wish to share please feel free to contact us via email mhcarers@carersact.org.au. 

All the best,

Catherine Joseph and Catherine Vonarx

The Mental Health Carers Voice Team

Get Involved

Want to be more involved in Mental Health Carers Voice's work? You can:

• Sign up for our consultation list by updating your subscription settings here.
• Check the consultations page on our website for upcoming opportunities.
• Like us on Facebook for regular updates and opportunities.
• Join our Advocacy and Policy Advisory Group, a group of mental health carers who draw on their lived experience to drive our work. Learn more.

Outcome Measurement Scoping Paper Released 

Outcome measurements are used to evaluate the effectiveness of mental health programs and services. They track changes in people's health and wellbeing over time. Carer outcomes refer to the impact that programs or services have on the lives of carers, such as changes in stress levels or feelings of inclusion in service delivery. It's crucial to consider these outcomes when developing mental health programs and services, as we all know that carers play a critical role in supporting the recovery of people with mental ill health.

The MHCC team was tasked by ACT Health to examine outcome measurements used in ACT's community-based mental health services. As contributors throughout this project, MHCV is pleased to share the final report with you all. Now that the recommendations have been provided to ACT Health, we look forward to the development of an outcomes measurement framework for the community-managed mental health sector that recognises and considers carer outcomes.

NDIS and Mental Health Conference Attendance 

Late February, Catherine J had the chance to attend the NDIS-Mental Health Conference on behalf of MHCV. It was a great opportunity to gain insights from mental health service delivery, fellow policy makers, and the NDIS Review Panel on the issues they heard the most. Here are some of key learnings from the conference:

• Minister Emma McBride confirmed that the national independent review of non-NDIS psychosocial service availability will release its findings on March 2024. This is a welcome step for mental health carers, who have seen a considerable decrease in mental health respite options since the advent of the NDIS. We've included a little update on the Psychosocial Project Group's work so far below.
  
• Likewise, the Chair and the NDIS Review Panel are aware of the critical issues with the individualised support model that hamper family and carer support access.
  
• The enablers and barriers to NDIS delivered Recovery-Oriented Psychosocial Disability Support were discussed. You can read La Trobe University's study on the same here. It was highlighted that a supported decision-making approach should be embedded for all areas of participant decision-making to promote the rights, autonomy, and self-determination of NDIS participants and their carers.
  
• The National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Forum (NMHCCF)'s key priorities, as included in their submission to the NDIS review were also discussed. This included the difficulty of gaining NDIS access, issues with language, and the burden of ongoing information collection from participants and carers.
  
• The role of the NDIS Commission and its strategic priority of elevating quality and safety for NDIS participants was discussed. Regulatory approaches and challenges for participants with psychosocial disability were also highlighted. Commissioner Tracy Mackey noted that it was important to continuously improve service quality and ensure the safety and wellbeing of both participants with psychosocial disability and their carers.

Update on the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement: Psychosocial Support

The Psychosocial Project Group, established following the signing of the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement, has recently convened. Their objective is to conduct a thorough analysis of psychosocial supports outside of the NDIS.

The group has reported back on its progress thus far, stating that it has been working to reach a consensus on a definition for psychosocial supports, targeted participants, and the scope of the analysis. This work represents the first stage of a two-part approach; the next phase will examine models of psychosocial support and opportunities for new models. 

For more on the National Agreement, see here. 

National Action Plan for LGBTIQA+ Health Announced

The Australian government has recently announced a national action plan and invested $26 million towards health and medical research for the LGBTIQA+ community. The national action plan will consider the unique and often complex  mental health needs of the LGBTIQA+. 

Read more about the new National action plan here.

Community-Based Mental Health Factsheet 

MHCC has created a factsheet to help in conversations with key decision makers and others outside the sector. It includes useful information that explains the community-based mental health sector, including work done, the challenges and current policy settings.  

You can access the factsheet here.

SANE Guided Service 

SANE Australia is offering a new service that provides free digital and telehealth services and ongoing tailored support to people over the age of 18 who have complex mental health needs, as well as their families and carers. 

The service was developed with input from advisory bodies and individuals with personal experience, with the aim of also offering mental health support to people with intellectual disability, autism, or acquired brain injury. 

Upon enrolling in the service, you will be connected with a dedicated support team of mental health professionals who have experience in both lived experience and counselling. This team will take the time to listen and understand your needs and preferences, and work with you to create a flexible and personalised support plan that prioritises your well-being, helps you reach your goals, and assists you in developing skills to better manage your mental health. 

Your dedicated support team will check in with you regularly to ensure the program is working for you, offer support, and adjust your plan if required. You'll also have access to a secure online portal where you can find your goals, appointments, booking tools, and resources. 

• Phone counseling (10am to 10pm Monday to Friday) 
• Peer support including 1:1 chat and weekly online groups 
• Join the community forums, which are available 24/7 
• Access the online tools, blogs, and fact sheets. 

Events Coming Up

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