Media Release

10 September 2014 Thousands falling through gaps in mental health

Up to 10,000 Victorians with mental illness may miss out on government-funded services essential in helping them recover, a powerful industry Alliance claimed today in a pre-state election event at Melbourne Town Hall.

Twenty organisations representing Victorian consumers, carers and services said the funds for the specialised community mental health services were at risk with the transfer of a significant proportion of Victorian community mental health funds to the National Disability Insurance Scheme under the agreement with the Commonwealth Government.

Mental health recovery services, delivered across the community mental health sector, keep people with mental illness connected to their communities while addressing their physical health and psychosocial wellbeing.

“Victoria has the most comprehensive mental health support system in Australia but it is at risk of being dismantled under the implementation of NDIS, leaving consumers and carers without the supports they need,” said Kim Koop, CEO of VICSERV representing services.

“Under the current Mental Health Community Services framework and the application of NDIS eligibility criteria, vulnerable and disadvantaged people are likely to miss out on these essential supports,” Ms Koop said.

“The Barwon NDIS launch site is already revealing the significant gaps that will exist for people living with mental illness, their families and carers; NDIS is becoming an inadequate replacement for the effective mental health system in Victoria in the future.”

“We anticipate that, over time, this unmet need will result in increased demand for the most expensive part of the health system: emergency departments and hospitals.”

Evidence shows the recovery focus of community mental health services and consumer-run communities and initiatives is effective in supporting people to establish and maintain contributing lives.

“We need a greater focus on the capacities of consumers and for the Government to invest in consumers and peer workers,” said Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council (VMIAC), consumer advocate, Nathan Grixti.

“We know that many people who have experience of mental health issues are among the most disadvantaged groups in our community, whether this be through social or economic circumstances,” he said.

“Specialised responses are needed to meet the needs of people with complex and diverse backgrounds and experiences.” “Some of the groups most at risk include Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, consumers who also have drug and alcohol problems, women, and people from the GLBTIQ community.”

One of the most pressing issues for consumers and carers is the lack of appropriate and stable housing for people living with mental illness. It is estimated that 42 per cent of people with mental illness are homeless or living in tenuous housing, yet, a stable home is a crucial component of mental health recovery.

Ms Heather Hoist representing Council for Homeless Persons said research from the US showed that ‘Housing First’ models that provide affordable housing and active (but voluntary) support lead to an 80 per cent housing retention rate for people who had formerly been homeless with complex mental health issues

Executive Director of Tandem, the peak body for carers, Ms Julien McDonald said that carers are a vitally important resource in supporting people in their recovery journey, saving the health and welfare system billions of dollars every year.

“Studies of levels of wellbeing across a variety of cohorts in the population (including unemployed and low income) show that carers have the lowest average wellbeing of any cohort ever measured,” Ms McDonald said.

“Their own mental health is at serious risk as a consequence of their caring role.”

“However, only 6 per cent of what is spent on other disability carers is spent on carers of people with mental illness.”

“At this stage there is no commitment to funding carer support programs beyond 2015, placing this group at even greater risk and disadvantage.”

Specifically, the Alliance called on the government to:  allocate $80 million over the next four years to continue Victoria’s community-based mental health support services, and prevent up to 10,000 people falling through the emerging gaps

 retain the Mutual Support and Self Help program to ensure the continued education, support and advocacy for carers and consumers

 grow the highly effective consumer peer workforce from 0.3 per cent to 10 per cent of the total mental health workforce

 develop a Carer Support Strategy which includes increasing the Carer Support Program by $12 million over four years to support an additional 12,500 carers

 fund stable housing for people with a mental illness, and fund initiatives to overcome stigma around homelessness and poor accessibility to housing

 establish an independent individual advocacy service for carers.

The Alliance is led by VMIAC, Tandem and VICSERV and comprised of:

Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council, Tandem, VICSERV, Victorian Council of Social Service, Australian BPD Foundation, Australian Community Support Organisation, BreakThru, CarersVic, CoHealth, Council to Homeless Persons, EACH, Mental Illness Fellowship, MIND Australia, Neami National, Orygen Youth Mental Health, SANE Australia, Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, Victorian Alcohol and Drug Association,Victorian Transcultural Mental Health, Women’s Mental Health Network Victoria.

Media enquiries: Sally Gibson 0409 197 717