Progress Report on the Implementation of Living Well: A
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Progress Report on the implementation of Living Well: A Strategic Plan for Mental Health in NSW 2014 - 2024 Preferred citation: Mental Health Commission of NSW (2015), One year on: Progress Report on the Implementation of Living Well: A Strategic Plan for Mental Health in NSW 2014-2024 © 2015 State of New South Wales ISBN: 978-0-9945046-0-9 Acknowledgements In presenting this report the Commission thanks all the NSW Government agencies, community-managed organisations and individuals that contributed to its development. In particular, we acknowledge NSW Health, the Department of Family and Community Services, the Department of Education and the Department of Justice. We acknowledge the lived experience of those with mental illness. To you we say: your preferences, wishes, needs and aspirations are at the heart of all the work we do, your perspective is essential to defining and achieving our goals and your courage continues to inspire and drive the work of the Commission. We acknowledge the families and carers of all people with a lived experience of mental illness. We recognise your commitment and the vital contribution of your role in supporting people who experience mental illness to live well on the terms they choose. Your knowledge and experience of mental health systems and services are among our most important sources of information and help guide our understanding of the change that needs to come. We acknowledge the dedication and continued effort of those working within the mental health system who strive for the change needed to create opportunities for better lives for those of us who live with mental illness. And we acknowledge and express our respect to the Wallumedegal people of the Eora Nation, the traditional owners of the land on which the offices of the NSW Mental Health Commission stand. We pay tribute to the resilience of Aboriginal people and communities, and their enduring cultures. The Commission would also like to thank the 744 people who completed our online Ready for Change survey and contributed to our understanding of how the community understands the opportunities and challenges of mental health reform over this first year. Cover images, clockwise from top: • Celebrating Mental Health Month at Parliament House, with the NSW Minister for Mental Health Hon. Pru Goward MP, Fay Jackson, Deputy Mental Health Commissioner, Premier of NSW the Hon. Mike Baird MP, Chair of NSW Parliamentary Friends of Mental Health, Scott Farlow MLC, John Feneley, NSW Mental Health Commissioner • Main street in Broken Hill, from the Commission’s visit in May 2015 • Release of Living Well: A Strategic Plan for Mental Health in NSW 2014-2024 on 15 December 2015, at Wayside Chapel, showing the Hon. Jai Rowell MP (former NSW Minister for Mental Health), Professor David Richmond AO, Rev. Graham Long AM, Dr Elizabeth Scott, Senior Psychiatrist, St Vincents Hospital, John Feneley, NSW Mental Health Commissioner, Professor Ian Hickie AM (at back) • Guunumba sit-down circle with Galambila Aboriginal Health Service, Coffs Harbour, June 2015 • Judy Parr, Broken Hill City Council, Catherine Lourey and Samantha Gray, NSW Mental Health Commission, Broken Hill visit June 2015 • Deputy Mental Health Commissioners Dr Robyn Shields AM and Bradley Foxlewin, 2014 • Central image: detail of cover of Living Well: A Strategic Plan for Mental Health in NSW 2014-2024 which features artwork by Rosemary Dugan 4 Contents To the Minister ..........................................................................................................................................................6 One year on – achievements and essential action ....................................................................................................8 Achieving the vision ..................................................................................................................................................9 Findings and recommendations ..............................................................................................................................10 1. A clear whole-of-government communication strategy is overdue ..........................................................10 2. Government must be more transparent and accountable via public reporting on mental health and wellbeing ..................................................................................................................................................11 3. Reporting on funding of mental health reform must be transparent ......................................................12 4. Planning needs to be improved to realise a better system .......................................................................13 5. Justice and policy reform requires more progress ....................................................................................15 Achievements in the first 12 months ......................................................................................................................16 Government action .......................................................................................................................................16 Agency action ................................................................................................................................................19 State initiatives that complement Living Well ...............................................................................................21 Local Initiatives to support reform ...............................................................................................................22 Commonwealth initiatives that align with Living Well ..................................................................................24 The Commission’s work ...........................................................................................................................................26 Monitoring and reporting .............................................................................................................................28 Getting the best information ........................................................................................................................28 Issues of concern ..........................................................................................................................................28 Whole of community impacts .......................................................................................................................29 The Commission’s reporting framework .................................................................................................................30 Monitoring and reporting over 10 years .......................................................................................................31 Living Well indicators – at a glance ...............................................................................................................33 Living Well indicators ....................................................................................................................................34 The community perspective – at a glance ....................................................................................................51 The community perspective .........................................................................................................................52 Implications for the next 12 months .......................................................................................................................59 Appendix 1 – Local Health District projects .............................................................................................................60 Appendix 2 – Research program in support of mental health reform .....................................................................63 References ............................................................................................................................................................66 Sources – Living Well indicator graphs ....................................................................................................................69 This report is accompanied by series of online supporting papers. These are available at nsw.mentalhealthcommission.com.au and include: • government agencies’ advice to the Commission about their progress • the work of the Mental Health Reform Implementation Taskforce • baseline analysis of the 10 Living Well indicators • findings of the Commission’s Ready for Change community survey • examples of reform initiatives and innovative practice across NSW • an overview of policy changes affecting mental health since the launch ofLiving Well in December 2014. 6 To the Minister It is now a year since the launch urges the Government and I look forward to further funding of in December 2014 of Living Well: agencies to focus their efforts on reform activities across additional A Strategic Plan for Mental Health these foundational steps in 2016. Government agencies to fully in NSW 2014-2024. The Premier implement Living Well. I am pleased the Government committed the Government at has established a Mental Health The Commission highlighted in that time to adopt and implement Reform Implementation Taskforce Living Well the importance of all its actions and directions, and with senior representation from enabling local action and design announced a $115 million funding key government agencies, chaired of services across Commonwealth package to