MHWA E-Bulletin - March 2005

Welcome to the latest Mental Health Workers Alliance email update, sent out in March 2005. These updates are sent out several times a year to subscribers.

This ebulletin highlights the success of the Mental Health Workers Alliance
in spotlighting issues that impact on workers in and around the mental
health sector, and the vulnerable members of society that many of these workers care for.

The Alliance is still young and there are many changes that need to take
place, but the invaluable first-hand experience its members mean it is among the best placed to reveal where vital assistance is most urgently needed.

The Mental Health Workers Alliance has been established by the NSW Nurses' Association, the Police Association of NSW, the Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation (NSW), the Health Services Union NSW, and the Australian Services Union (NSW) in response to ongoing concerns among our members about the entrenched resource deficits in mental health services across NSW.

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Homeless Bare Brunt - Homeless people with mental illnesses have born the brunt of a decision to close St Vincent's Mental Health Service's 24-hour crisis care service. The Mental Health Workers Alliance raised the alarm on the issue, which is leaving many large organisations that care for the homeless without psychiatric support during their peak times. The Sydney Morning Herald (February 12, 2005) reports staff shortages are to blame and says the situation is putting the safety of staff and clients at risk. MHWA spokesperson and Nurse Manager at Matthew Talbot Toby Raeburn has met with management at St Vincents Mental Health Service to discuss the issue and the Alliance has informed NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Health Cherie Burton. To read the Sydney Morning Herald article, please click
http://www.smh.com.au/news/Health/Homeless-face-mental-care-crisis/2005/02/11/1108061872340.html

Tip Of Iceberg - The Cornelia Rau incident which made so many headlines this month was just the tip of the iceberg regarding the way that a whole generation of people with mental illnesses are being let down. Speaking at a Cornelia Rau rally this month MHWA spokesperson and Nurse Manager at the Matthew Talbot Hostel in Sydney, Toby Raeburn, supported the call for an open inquiry into the Cornelia Rau incident. Mr Raeburn said the case "only serves to highlight the poor treatment and lack of transparency related to the care of people with mental illness inside Australian Immigration Centres." He said that in many ways Rau may be one of the lucky ones. "One wonders what is happening to people within our immigration centres who are mentally ill and have no relatives in Australia, who cannot speak English, or for those who are children." He said conducting an open and transparent inquiry into the case would provide an opportunity to begin reforming the way people with mental illness were being treated in Australia. To read the speech visit http://www.labor.net.au/campaigns/mhwa/news/rau.html

Support For Senate Inquiry - A proposed Senate inquiry into mental health would examine the capability of the current mix of mental health services to meet present and future demand for the entire spectrum of mental health services, including prevention, treatment and continuing care, in both metropolitan and rural Australia. These are among the terms of references proposed by leader of the Australian Democrats Senator Allison. The proposal to refer the matter to a Senate committee will be considered in March. The Alliance said it would be making a detailed submission to the inquiry in which it would call for an end to blame shifting between the state and federal levels of government and would call for a coordinated approach. Efforts must be made to address the impact of system failure on those living with mental illnesses, their carers, and all front line workers struggling to provide first class care in an under-resourced and poorly coordinated industry, the MHWA said. The proposed terms of reference can be accessed at http://www.aph.gov.au/Senate/work/notice/snpf_014.pdf

Don't Shoot The Messengers - Mental health budget priorities for the
2005/2006 financial year and a report back on the current year's spending made for a lively discussion when the MHWA had its second meeting with NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Health Cherie Burton in February. Ms Burton said it was vital to get the message out about the positive work the NSW Government was doing on mental health but agreed the information flow had to be two-way. The MHWA highlighted a number of areas where boosted funding was needed to support:

• Appropriate recruitment and retention strategies for front line workers

• Decent training for those currently employed on the front lines

• Sufficient community resourcing to ensure people can see client managers before they reach crisis point

• Resumption of 24 hour crisis care service, including St Vincents hospital, and

• The establishment of dual diagnosis facilities.

Report Highlights Mental Illness Challenge - The NSW Government's report on incident management in public hospitals shows that mental illness continues to be a major area of weakness in the state's health system, doctors in the public health system have said. Australian Salaried Medical Officers Federation executive director Peter Somerville said that a high proportion of serious incidents recorded in the report were suspected suicides by mental health patients in hospitals and in the community. "What the report highlights is the human cost of when system failures let down the mentally
ill. This is an issue that ASMOF members have campaigned strongly about along with other workers in the health system through the Mental Health Workers Alliance." He said that by working through the Alliance "these workers are pushing for better resourcing for the mental health sector, improved staffing levels, and increased capacity to care for some of our most vulnerable members of the community". Access the report at
http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/pubs/2005/pdf/incident_mgmt.pdf

One To Keep - Elderly mental health patients are being uprooted from Rozelle Hospital as part one of an exercise that could see all clients moved by 2007. The move to close what is the largest mental health facility in the Central Sydney Area is being resisted by local residents, clients' families, and mental health workers alike. The Friends of Callan Park group is holding a public meeting about saving the hospital from 7pm on Wednesday 30 March at the Balmain Town Hall. Representatives from the Mental Health Workers Alliance, Sergeant Luke Hannon and Mr Toby Raeburn will outline the current state of the mental health system and the likely impact if Rozelle Hospital is closed. Read all about it at http://www.villagevoice.com.au/news/NewsArchive/March2004/BalRozEd/PatientsMovedOutOfHospitalBalRozEdMar2004.htm

The Workers United - Practical assistance for frontline workers and funding priorities for the mental health sector will be the focus of a joint-union MHWA conference, due to go ahead late June. Watch this space!

For The Diary - Whether or not beer is your cup of tea, the Gaelic Club's Politics in the Pub session on Friday 15 April promises a topical discussion. Titled 'The Current Crisis in Mental Health and the Cross Union Mental Health Workers Alliance', speakers include Child Psychiatrist and Director of the NSW Institute of Psychiatry Louise Newman, Angela Garvey from the NSW Nurses Association, and Unions NSW Secretary John Robertson. Session runs from 6pm to 7.45pm at the Gaelic Club, Level 1, 64 Devonshire St, in Surry Hills.

Sending A Clear Message - Messages of support have poured into the Alliance since it was established late last year. Many have also forwarded letters to NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Health Cherie Burton outlining the details of their own personal experiences of the mental health system and asking her to get behind the Alliance too. To send a message by email to Ms Burton click http://www.labor.net.au/campaigns/mhwa/protest/protest_form.html

One Stop MHWA Shop - MHWA pamphlets can be accessed on the Alliance website, along with our Charter, survey results, previous e-bulletins, and background documents. Check the website regularly for new documents and developments and for new ways to become involved at http://www.labor.net.au/campaigns/mhwa/mhwa.html

Locked Out Of Alliance? - Some subscribers to the MHWA e-bulletin did not get the November issue, with a number of bulletins bouncing back - particularly those sent to Department of Health addresses. This may be because of wrong addresses or it could be due to department spam filters. If you have a DOH email address and are reading this please hit reply to confirm receipt. If you know of others who may have been expecting to receive their updates but didn't, please ask them to forward their email details again to tara@essentialmedia.com.au

Almost, But Not Quite? - For those on intranets who are unable to access the MHWA weblinks, please contact tara@essentialmedia.com.au to request any individual items be sent as an attachment.

If you have received this message in error or would like to be removed from this list, please contact tara@essentialmedia.com.au

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