Can We Talk: Campaigners call for more mental health services
TWO giants of the mental health sector have called on government funded organisations to focus on improving services rather than “another awareness campaign”.
NSW
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TWO giants of the mental health sector have called on government funded organisations to focus on improving services rather than “another awareness campaign”.
Sydney University Brain and Mind Centre co-director Professor Ian Hickie and 2010 Australian of the Year Professor Patrick McGorry are asking why the new #YouCanTalk campaign is not focused more on mental healthcare.
Prof Hickie, said #YouCanTalk — which involves seven government funded organisations urging people to talk more openly about suicide — will simply drive more people into an under-resourced mental health care sector.
“Personally I would like to see our nationally government funded agencies move on to where the really big issues are: quality of access and services, better care, more informed research,” he said.
“Pouring more and more money into awareness has less and less impact on the problem.
“You don’t need more awareness, but you actually need changes in structural elements to make people‘s lives better.”
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University of Melbourne Prof Patrick McGorry, who is the executive director of youth mental health organisation Orygen, said #YouCanTalk must do more.
“I call on these organisations to support better access to quality mental health care rather than another awareness campaign alone,” he said.
“I totally support this #YouCanTalk campaign as it is an indication of what I’ve been saying and also what The Sunday Telegraph has been saying. But it’s only the first step.”
#YouCanTalk was launched this week and brings together beyondblue, headspace, Lifeline, Everymind, R U OK? Black Dog Institute and ReachOut.
The campaign encourages people to actively discuss suicide with those who are in distress.
Some mental health organisations have previously wanted to limit those discussions to professionals and criticised direct discussion of suicide in the media.
Prof McGorry and Prof Hickie said the #YouCanTalk campaign’s change of tack echoes The Sunday Telegraph’s #CanWeTalk campaign, which campaigned for better mental health services in city and country areas.
The Sunday Telegraph campaign held forums with NSW Police, mental health experts, the NRL and community leaders, aiming to give practical advice to parents concerned about their kids.
The direct and at times confronting campaign also helped secure a headspace youth mental centre in Grafton — an area ravaged by youth suicide.
“At the time (of #CanWeTalk) there was an issue that the conversation was to frank, too straightforward, it needed to be softened and spoken about in more indirect way,” Prof Hickie, who once ran beyondblue said.
“In my view that was very unAustralian in that we tend to speak very bluntly.
“There was criticism about the degree of personalisation and encouraging people who actually have this experience to actually speak. People had reservations about that.
“Now it is accepted the only way to go is to have people speak for themselves, not be talked about by professionals or others.
“The Sunday Telegraph can pat itself on the back for being a good five years in front of your average nationally funded mental health body.”
Prof Hickie’s comments sparked an angry response from former beyondblue chief Jeff Kennett.
“All the organisations involved in this #YouCanTalk campaign are highly reputable and we need to keep on getting new messages out there,” he said.
“I am tired of Patrick McGorry and Ian Hickie and their constant bleating about more funds.”
You don’t need more awareness, but you actually need changes in structural elements to make people‘s lives better.
A campaign spokesman said #YouCanTalk was about far more than awareness — it was also about saving lives — and everyone had a role to play in preventing suicide.
“Every day we provide services, supports and programs and continue to advocate for a better mental health system that will lead to better outcomes for all Australians affected by poor mental health and suicide risk,” he said.
“While quality services are vital, our organisations each have a responsibility to build the capacity of the community to play a role in suicide prevention.
“We wanted to come together to amplify the message to community rather than working separately.
“Suicide prevention is not about services versus prevention activity or professionals versus the community; it’s not ‘either or’. Everyone has a role.”
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