Public Address | Cafe | Speaker: Our Mental Health System: Let’s have a sensible discussion

Andrew J

Wed, 05 Oct 2016 14:11:51 +1300

But in my experience when the money and resources shrink, sectioning to ‘ensure safety’ becomes a proxy for meaningful engagement.

That has been my own experience as a patient, and seems to accord with the statistics.

Over the 10 years from 2005 to 2014, use of section 29 community treatment…

Kyle MacDonald

Wed, 05 Oct 2016 11:54:06 +1300

Great piece Andrea, and I agree more funding isn’t THE answer. But in my experience when the money and resources shrink, sectioning to ‘ensure safety’ becomes a proxy for meaningful engagement. When clinicians have more time and autonomy to form therapeutic relationships, in other words free to do their job,…

B Jones

Tue, 04 Oct 2016 16:10:22 +1300

Can anyone recommend any resources/sites for friends of people who have had mental health crises?

Hilary Stace

Mon, 03 Oct 2016 21:01:36 +1300

Yes, Kay, we need an official, respectful national apology from the top on behalf of the State to all those abused by the State. At the launch of Elizabeth Stanley's recent book on the history of children in care, Jacinda Ardern promised such an action from the future Labour/Greens government.

Angela Hart

Mon, 03 Oct 2016 17:16:27 +1300

Kay, it's great to hear from you and terrible to understand how the system operates.

Kay

Mon, 03 Oct 2016 17:11:11 +1300

I survived the 1969 Mental Health Act and the tail end of the institutions. Like many others I was miraculously "cured" by virtue of the new Act and the closure of the Bins, ie when they suddenly didn't have anywhere to lock people up for any reason indefinitely anymore. Those…

Hilary Stace

Mon, 03 Oct 2016 11:37:10 +1300

Yes Article 14 – so powerful and clear. I understand Mary O'Hagan, then Mental Health Commissioner, had a say in its drafting. But until we have rights enshrined in a proper Geoffrey Palmer approved constitution the Mental Health Act will have more power than any of our international rights obligations…

Public Address

Mon, 03 Oct 2016 11:37:10 +1300

Discussion from blog post.