Consultations
MHCC is committed to working closely with members, consumers and carers, and community interests to guide our work. MHCC is also asked to participate in consultations conducted by government and other organisations on mental health related issues. Our consultation work may be part of our current research or projects. Results of previous consultations have informed our submissions or publications or continue to inform our ongoing work.
MHCC Current Consultations
MHCC has both ongoing consultations and specific consultations where we invite input. We conduct CEO Forums and other events as well as an annual member survey where we obtain feedback that informs MHCC's work and issues of concern. Details of any current specific consultations being held by MHCC will be listed here.
Consultation on the NSW Suicide Prevention Strategy 2010-2015
(Public consultation draft)
1 July 2010
MHCC Member Consultation. HAVE YOUR SAY. Provide MHCC with your comments by 15 July 2010
The NSW Government is developing a new five year, whole of government Suicide Prevention Strategy 2010-2015 which sets out the NSW Government’s Strategic Directions and intended outcomes for suicide prevention in NSW. The directions are aligned with the national suicide prevention framework: Living Is For Everyone (LIFE) Framework (2007), a framework for prevention of suicide in Australia. Commonwealth of Australia: Canberra, 2008.
The NSW Suicide Prevention Strategy states that it has adopted a population health approach to suicide prevention in NSW. It also states that it has been developed to provide the basis for a coordinated whole of government approach which promotes a whole of community framework for collaboration and partnerships with academics and researchers, non-government organisations, service providers, people bereaved by suicide, and families, friends and individuals in the provision of suicide prevention initiatives.
The Strategy identifies the six strategic directions in detail in the draft strategy paper: describing the actions necessary to provide the stated outcomes, as well as highlighting the initiatives already in place that contribute to a strategic direction. The strategic directions are based on the LIFE action areas, underpinned by a range of other government policies and programs (such as the COAG National Action Plan on Mental Health 2006-2011)
The Plan’s desired outcomes include increasing the capacity of communities to prevent mental health problems, mental illness and suicide, identify and intervene early with people at risk.
MHCC is making a submission to NSW Health and we welcome your input by Friday 16 July 2010 addressed to Corinne Henderson at: corinne@mhcc.org.au
To simplify the process, MHCC request comment from members on the following questions:
1. Recommendations as to how the six strategic directions could be addressed:
1. Improving the evidence base and understanding of suicide prevention
2. Building individual resilience and the capacity for self help
3. Improving community strength, resilience and capacity in suicide prevention
4. Taking a coordinated approach to suicide prevention
5. Providing targeted suicide prevention activities
6. Implementing standards and quality in suicide prevention
2. Recommendations as to any important strategic directions not identified in the six directions above, and suggest actions that address the direction.
3. Recommendations regarding target groups that remain unidentified in the draft strategy, i.e. trauma victims (Figure 3.1. p.24).
4. Provide personal experience (to be de-identified) that demonstrates an omission in the strategy.
5. Recommendations as to how the strategy might be reviewed and evaluated, i.e. key performance indicators.
6. Provide feedback on current suicide prevention initiatives – what works, and what does not work.
7. Provide feedback on any matter in the draft strategy.
Alternatively - If you wish to comment on the paper in full, a copy is available at:
http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/resources/initiatives/suicide_prevention/strategy_draft_pdf.asp
Other Consultations
MHCC also participates in various consultations initiated by other organisations. Details of current consultations open to MHCC and/or MHCC members are provided below. If you wish to list your consultation invitation here, please contact us.
Centre for Values, Ethics & Law in Medicine Research study into Community Treatment Orders –
Invitation to participate
Community Treatment Orders (or CTOs) are legal orders that authorise involuntary mental health care – such as medication and therapy, counselling, management, rehabilitation and other services – for people living in the community. We are looking for people to tell us about their experiences of CTOs.
We want to find out what it’s like to be under a CTO and we want to speak to the people caring for and supporting people under CTOs. That way we hope to improve the whole process.
We would like to speak with you about your experiences, including your participation in decisionmaking
and your reflections on the ideas of ‘risk’ and ‘capacity’. This project provides a chance to increase our knowledge about the experiences and views of people who have had a mental illness and their carers. We will use the knowledge we gather to make the CTO decision-making processes better. The project is funded by NSW Health and approved by the University of Sydney Human Research Ethics Committee.
Who is able to take part?
To be able to take part in this study you must either:
- be currently on a CTO or have been on a CTO in the past 2 years in NSW, or
- be a primary carer to a person currently on a CTO or who was on a CTO in the past 2
years in NSW.
You must also:
- be 18 years of age or older.
- be able to speak and understand English.
What will it involve?
- Coming to an interview with the researcher at the offices of Carers NSW, or the Mental Health Coordinating Council, or the New South Wales Consumer Advisory Group - Mental Health Inc. For details of office locations please contact us.
- $40 reimbursement for your time and travel expenses.
If you’d like to participate, please contact us.
Associate Professor Michael Robertson, Centre for Values, Ethics and the Law in Medicine
For further information, please contact Edwina Light at 02 9036 3418 or edwina.light@sydney.edu.au
NSW CAG Consultation with Consumers on the NSW Criminal Justice System and Mental Health
The NSW Law Reform Commission is currently looking at the way people with mental illness come in contact with the criminal justice system.
In order for NSW CAG to respond to their enquiries we have prepared a questionnaire to hear from consumers about your views and/or experiences of the police, court system, jail and/or forensic system and to identify what processes need to change.
The questionnaire can be found at:
http://www.nswcag.org.au/page/mental_illness__criminal_justice_system_questionnaire.html
Thank you for taking the time to complete this questionnaire. Your feedback is valuable in informing us about issues relevant to consumers. NSW CAG will draw on your feedback to assist in focusing our lobbying efforts to create change.
For any questions regarding this questionnaire please contact Bridgette Skehan, Policy Officer, NSW CAG on 02 9332 0200 or bskehan@nswcag.org.au
For further information about the NSW Law Reform Commission’s review and access to the consultation papers, visit http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/lrc/ll_lrc.nsf/pages/LRC_cref120
Consultation on Disability Care and Support
The Australian Government Productivity Commission have released an issues paper on Disability Care and Support on 17 May 2010. The issues paper is intended to assist you in preparing a submission to the Commission. It covers a range of issues that the Commission is seeking information and feedback on. To ensure your submission is consideration prior to release of the inquiry's draft report - your submission should reach the Commission by Monday 16 August 2010.
Alternatively, if you would like to provide feedback on this paper to MHCC please do so by 2 August 2010, by contacting Corinne Henderson at corinne@mhcc.org.au
The issues are provided in various formats depending on your need.
• A full issues paper that covers the issues in great detail
• A short set of questions that address the main issues for people wanting to give us a personal response
• A short Auslan presentation of the key questions and a text version of the Auslan presentation
• An Easy English version of the key issues.
Please visit the website to download the issues paper in various formats i.e. full issues paper; short set of questions; Auslan; Easy English key issues.
http://www.pc.gov.au/projects/inquiry/disability-support/issues