eNews  |  December 2021

Merry Christmas and Happy 2022

As we close off on 2021, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for the work that you do and the contributions that you have made to the wellbeing of Queenslanders during these challenging times.

The Christmas period enables us all to reflect, recharge and reconnect on so many levels as we move into 2022.

Let’s use this Christmas period to be present, rather than just focusing on presents; wrap your dearest ones in hugs, rather that wrap gifts; send love rather than gifts; donate food and invite others to share food with you, rather than just shop for food; use this festive season to make memories rather than just cookies; and don't just get overjoyed by seeing Christmas lights, but be the light.

Together we can make these our real gifts for Christmas and bring joy, happiness and peace to all. Have a safe, joyous and Merry Christmas and may 2022 bring better times for us all.

Queensland Parliamentary Review of Mental Health

The Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, Yvette D’ath has announced terms of reference for a Mental Health Select Committee to undertake an inquiry and report on opportunities to improve mental health outcomes for Queenslanders.

The Committee must report by May next year and the Commission will be developing a submission in January 2022. We’ll also be asking Stakeholders for their experiences to support our submission.

The announcement came after a significant campaign by the The Courier-Mail called Through the gaps, which highlighted the significant pressures the system is under. Read my opinion piece Patchwork system costs everyone.

Be safe: Vaccinate now

Queensland’s borders have now opened and we are entering a new phase of the pandemic which brings with it new and different challenges – for individuals, for the community and for the health, and mental health, system.

We have been incredibly fortunate in the management of the pandemic so far, but never before has it been more critical for all of us to be vaccinated. I urge anyone who isn’t yet vaccinated to protect themselves, their families, friends and communities as soon as possible.

The international Equally Well Alliance has also called for global action to improve vaccine equity for people living with mental illness and addiction use disorders.

In December the Commission hosted a Sector COVID-19 Preparedness webinar to share information and advice about managing this next phase of the pandemic – a video and resources can be found on our website.

COVID-19 and Australia's mental health

A new report by Australia’s Mental Health Think Tank confirms Australians’ deteriorating mental health from the COVID-19 pandemic, putting further strain on our already over-burdened mental health system.

National peer workforce guidelines

Lived Experience workers have unique knowledge, abilities and attributes. They draw on their own life-changing experience, service use and journey of recovery and healing, to support others. Read the new guidelines from the NMHC.

Lethal cocktails: poly-drug overdoses

Combinations of multiple substances, rather than any one drug or even drug type alone, are responsible for the majority of fatal overdoses in Australia, according to the Penington Institute’s annual overdose report.

Consumer perspectives of mental health care

The Your Experience of Service (YES) survey rates mental health consumer and carer experiences of care in public specialised mental health services. Find out how Queensland’s mental health services performed.

New Queensland Health MHAOD guideline

Queensland Health has released a new policy that recognises the multiple, complex needs of people with co-occurring substance use disorders and other mental health disorders. The policy applies to all Queensland Health MHAOD service settings and age groups.

First Nations mental health app

A new app makes it easier for First Nations people to access information about mental health and wellbeing. The Aboriginal and Islander Mental health initiative Stay Strong app is a digital mental health tool to help service providers have conversations about wellbeing.

Mentally healthy workplaces = mentally healthy people

The National Mental Health Commission’s Blueprint for Mentally Healthy Workplaces provides a vision, core principles and focus areas for creating mentally healthy environments that can be shared by all organisations and businesses across Australia.

African community MH report

One of the first community-led studies on the mental health needs of Queensland’s African community has been conducted. It found increased mental health and AOD challenges for African communities require better awareness, education, stigma reduction and culturally-appropriate services.

$40 million kindy funding

The Queensland Government is focused on all children getting a great start in life through its $40 million Kindy Uplift program, which provides additional support to vulnerable and disadvantaged children at over 400 kindergartens state-wide.

$7.8 million for PIMH Helpline

The Commonwealth has provided an extra $7.8 million over four years to expand the National Perinatal Mental Health Helpline. The funds will build capacity to respond to increased pandemic demand and help women who experience perinatal mental health issues.

Inquiry into Queensland's NDIS market

The Queensland Productivity Commission’s inquiry into the NDIS market in Queensland has been released, with 20 findings and 56 recommendations particularly focused on issues faced by providers.

Select Committee reports

The national Parliament's Select Committee on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention has found Australia is navigating a mental health, suicidality and social and emotional wellbeing crisis that's exacerbated by successive natural disasters and the COVID pandemic.

Australia's prison dilemma

Australia is locking up a record number of people. Our imprisonment rate has grown steadily since the 1980s and is around its highest level in a century. The increase in imprisonment cannot be explained solely by changes in either the amount or type of crime. It is, at least in part, a policy choice.

Jails lack appropriate mental health care

The State Coroner has found the suicide death of a First Nations man in prison highlights the need for more culturally appropriate and ongoing mental health services in Queensland jails, more male psychologists, and more and better mental health and risk assessment training for prison staff. 

Suicide in vulnerable children

Children and young people know to the protection system are at greater risk of suicide, according to research released by the Queensland Child Death Review Board. The research uncovers insights and drivers behind suicide among children and young people known to the child protection system. 

Australians' social connectedness declines

Findings of a BCEC study show social connectedness has declined in Australia over the past decade and reveals evidence of a greater prevalence of loneliness among people with disabilities, people experiencing socio-economic disadvantage and culturally and linguistically diverse people. 

Permanent telehealth to continue under medicare

Read the Commonwealth Government announcement and the Australian Medical Association's response.

Australia's mental health plan delayed

In this CROAKEY HEALTH MEDIA article, mental health experts Dr Sebastian Rosenberg, Chris Raine and Professor Ian Hickie identify six reasons for the failures of previous plans and suggest three practical actions the new Plan can incorporate to give it the best chance of success.

New Zealand becomes first country to legalise pill testing

Read more here and here.

Julia Gillard delivers Mental Health Australia's 2021 Grace Groom Oration Watch the video.

New project to better connect children with mental health services receives federal funding  Read more.

Social enterprise receives $1 million boost

Supplying to government is now easier for Queensland's growing social enterprise sector with the Queensland Government announcing more than $1 million for new initiatives Read more.

And for something uplifting...

For the special men and boys in our lives Boys do cry.is a new campaign to raise awareness of men's mental health and to encourage help seeking.

Sponsorships

We offer sponsorships up to $10,000 for sector events. Next round closes 30 November. 

Sector grants

The Queensland Council of Social Service (QCOSS) publishes a comprehensive list of sector grants.

Events

Check out the latest major sector events, hosted by the Commission and partner organisations.

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