Mental health royal commission: People struggling with complex system

People with mental health issues are struggling to find support as they navigate an overwhelmed and complex system, a community feedback session has heard.

More than 150 shared their experiences with mental health in Box Hill.

The Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System’s chair has affirmed mental health is a “high priority” in Box Hill after meeting with those living and working in the suburb.

More than 150 people chose to speak with the four commissioners about their experiences with Melbourne’s mental health services when the experts visited Box Hill on Monday.

The submitters included people who had experienced mental health issues, as well as carers, workers and service providers.

After spending the day hearing their “experiences and knowledge”, commissioner chair Penny Armytage said: “it is clear mental health is a priority”.

Penny Armytage is the chair of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System.

She said feedback at the Box Hill consultations stressed the challenges of accessing the necessary services when they were most needed.

“People told us that both the public and private systems were overwhelmed and this means it’s easy for individuals to slip through the gaps,” Ms Armytage said.

“People also spoke about the challenges of navigating what is a highly complex mental health system to meet their changing needs.”

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The State Government’s Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System is designed to determine a set of actions that will improve access to the state’s mental health services, navigation of the service and models of care.

The commission has been travelling around the state to speak with different communities about the services throughout April and May.

Box Hill was one of the 22 suburbs and towns across metropolitan and regional Victoria chosen as a location for the community consultations.

Ms Armytage said the sessions had been “invaluable”.

With the sessions having wrapped up, she has urged people to share their insights into Victoria’s mental health system with the commission online at rcvmhs.vic.gov.au.

Submissions will be taken until July 5.