SANE Australia Annual Report
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ANNUAL HIGHLIGHTS 2017–2018 Supporting four million people affected by complex mental illness. A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR AND CEO SANE Australia has made It builds on the outstanding digital- outstanding progress over the past storytelling and marcomms work led by year and we thank everyone involved Philippa Costigan and her team. A big in helping us to build a better world thank you also to our pro bono lawyers for people dealing with complex King & Wood Mallesons who provided mental health issues. extensive legal advice on many fronts. In particular, we thank the committed Over the coming year, we will almost team at SANE who has contributed to double in size and we are very Cameron us reaching more people than ever conscious of the need to grow in before through our Help Centre, Online a sustainable way. To this end, we Forums, revamped Peer Ambassador recently recruited Dinah Rowe-Roberts Program, content-rich website and “Conversations used to be about recovery, to the new role of Chief Operating extensive media partnerships. but now it’s about living with your Officer. We also promoted Dr Michelle diagnosis - leading a life, making plans, Blanchard to the role of Deputy CEO At the end of 2016, we made a knowing it can be happy and productive.” and Director of the Anne Deveson conscious decision to invest in building Research Centre. our research and policy capability and this investment has delivered results. Exclusive of The Dax Centre contribution, In 2018/2019 we will establish the we reported a near break-even result Anne Deveson Research Centre which with a 22 per cent increase in turnover – honours the immense contribution of a significant improvement on last year. our co-founder. This new centre will SANE Australia continued its support provide much-needed research into for the Mental Health Leaders Group how best to promote psychosocial initiative started by our Chair and outcomes for people living with involving the CEOs from beyondblue, complex mental health issues. Thanks Lifeline, the Black Dog Institute, to a partnership with the Paul Ramsay Saria ReachOut Australia, headspace, Orygen Foundation, the first initiative of the and Mind Australia. We teamed up to Anne Deveson Research Centre will be collaborate around suicide prevention to conduct a National Stigma Survey “People with mental illness are and now hold biannual gatherings of which will provide a baseline measure actively fighting to stay well every day CEOs to look at ways we can provide of how people living with complex even if it doesn’t look like it.” better leadership across the mental mental illness experience stigma and health sector. discrimination. The Survey will drive and inform our advocacy agenda. On a sad note, we lost our long-standing All up, we have a sense of great Patron-in-Chief Sir Ninian Stephen AC momentum at SANE Australia. For We also secured funding for the Better who passed away at the end of 2017. this, we must thank our many donors, Off With You (BOWY) suicide prevention Thankfully, Dame Quentin Bryce AD foundation partners, ambassadors, campaign pilot. Building off our past CVO kindly agreed to become our new pro bono supporters and volunteers work in suicide prevention, BOWY takes Patron-in-Chief reconnecting with the – because of you we will continue to an innovative peer-to-peer approach organisation where she had served as make a real difference in the lives of the where people with lived experience a board member for six years when we four million Australians who are directly of suicidal thoughts share their were known as Schizophrenia Australia affected by complex mental illness. experiences to inspire people who are Foundation. We were thrilled to have We thank you for your very kind and feeling suicidal to seek help and find a Dame Quentin as our guest of honour generous support. reason to live. at a special Patrons dinner at Cranlana A key highlight of the year was our House hosted by SANE Board member merger with The Dax Centre. This iconic Lucy Myer. Melbourne institution houses more We also farewelled our Treasurer Jack Heath Margaret O’Donnell AO than 16,000 artistic pieces produced by Chief Executive Officer Chair Jack O’Connell after five years of people living with mental health issues. dedicated service and welcomed Ewan Thanks to the Victorian Government, we Barron from PwC Australia as our new will extend the reach of The Dax Centre Treasurer to join our other hard-working and its program offerings. board members: Kylie Griffin, Dr Mark As part of the merger, The Dax Centre Cross, Heather Gray, Rod Farmer and board members Dr Elizabeth Dax and Osher Günsberg. Rob Gerrand joined the SANE board We were particularly pleased to and we appointed Charmaine Smith as extend our work with young people in The Dax Centre’s new Director. Due to their 20s thanks to the great ongoing accounting requirements, the value of support of the Future Generation Global The Dax Centre’s long-term peppercorn Investment company. This partnership lease is shown in the profit and loss is engaging a new wave of young results in this report for the wider people who will be leading advocates SANE group. over the years to come. 2 2017–2018: HIGHLIGHTS AT A GLANCE 40% 225 1,190,607 Increase in the number of people joining Reports from community submitted People visited sane.org (12.6% increase SANE Forums to StigmaWatch (27% increase on on 2016/2017) 2016/2017) 76 315 Peer Ambassadors involved in 52 events, presentations and other Health professionals trained in engagements supporting people at risk of suicide 100+ 14,626 Partnerships with other organisations Instances of support provided to people Ali through the SANE Help Centre’s three channels 130% “Hope is a really important thing to get you through some of those Increase in people accessing stories 265,000 really dark times. And once you find it, about living with mental illness and it’s important to hold on.” practical tips for managing symptoms People reached every month on Facebook OVERVIEW OF MENTAL ILLNESS IN OUR COMMUNITY SANE Australia Whole of population Mild-moderate Severe episodic/ Severe and persistent/ (anxiety, depression etc) severe and persistent complex multiagency needs complex and chronic illness psychosocial disability 3 million people (schizophrenia, bipolar, eating disorders, severe 65,000 people depression etc) 625,000 people This diagram shows the estimated number of people living with mental ill-health in Australia. SANE’s work focuses on the more severe and complex end of the spectrum. For every one of these people there will be at least five family members, friends, work colleagues or other people they know who are directly affected by their condition. That’s four million Australians combined. Source: National Mental Health Commission, Contributing lives, thriving communities: Report of the National Review of Mental Health Programmes and Services, 2014 3 PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS 2017–2018 SANE Australia is a national Forums mental health charity working Bringing together the lived experience of individuals, families, friends and carers in a safe, anonymous and supportive environment 24/7, to support the four million supported by the Australian Government Department of Health and Australians affected by complex Colonial Foundation. mental illness. Our work • The community grew by 3,329 to 11,588 members, an increase of includes information, support, 40.3% on the previous year. research and advocacy. • Unique visitors increased by 38%, with 199,750 visits recorded during the year. • 215,314 posts by members sharing their stories, advice and support. OUR CHALLENGE • Partnered with 12 additional mental health and allied organisations to deliver the Forums service via their own websites. 690,000 Help Centre Australians over 18 years of age are Providing an integrated telephone service, email and web chat support living with complex mental illness, delivered by mental health professionals. including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, personality disorders, eating • Hours of operation extended from 10am–10pm (Monday to Friday) to disorders, severe and enduring mood meet increased need by those affected by complex mental illness for disorders, PTSD, obsessive compulsive information, referrals and brief support. disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. (Review of Mental Health • 3,500 additional contacts via phone, email and web chat were made Programs and Services, National Mental this year, reaching 14,626, an increase of 29.9% on the previous year. Health Commission, 2014). • Evaluation of the 1800 Helpline revealed callers with lived experience feel less isolated, more empowered and hopeful, and experience an 5+ increased sense of wellbeing after calls. Whole of Family members, friends or colleagues population affected for every person living with SANE STRATEGY OVERVIEW 2018–2020 complex mental illness. = 4 million An Australia where everyone aected by mental illness Australians affected by complex mental lives a long and fulfilling life illness in any year. Promoting the wellbeing of people aected by complex mental illness SANE Australia works with over 100 mental health and community sector partners and corporate supporters to deliver its programs and services. The organisation is uniquely placed to provide services to Australians affected by complex mental illness. Better Stronger Less Longer Support Connections Discrimination Lives Credible and Influential Known and Respected Sustainable and Capable SANE’s programs, services and strategic initiatives