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SFNSW and NSW rural Mental Health are the big winners in latest funding
more PHAMS sites and more PHAMS workers so we can help more people living with mental illness
The Fellowship has had a string of successes over the past few weeks. It started with learning that we had been assessed by the federal Department of Health and Aging as highly suitable to be the lead organisation for the new Partners in recovery program in South West Sydney. This is one of the largest PiR services in the country. We have a wonderful partnership with the Medicare Local and a number of other service providers in that area to deliver this program.
More very good news followed as we found we had been successful in a string of other programs. These are very big in the spread that it will give the Fellowship and a true acknowledgement of the work of so many of our people. We have just been successful in a massive number of new funded projects through the federal Department of Families and Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. In fact as I looked through the national list of successful tenderers, it appears that we have done very well across the board.
As Senator Mark Thistlethwaite said to me, “congratulations, this is proof that the Fellowship is doing it right, keep up the good work”.
We have been successful with the following:
- New PHaMS site: Bega Valley, Bombala, Snowy River, Cooma-Monaro, Tumbarumba
- New Mental Health Respite Carer Support Service: Goulburn, Mulwaree, Yass Valley, Upper Lachlan, Palerang, Wollondilly, Wingecaribee
- New PHaMS Employment Site: Wollongong, Shellharbour, Eurobodalla, Shoalhaven
- New PHaMS Employment Site: Campbelltown, Camden
- Additional PHaMS workers: Dubbo
- Additional PHaMS workers: Albury, Wagga Wagga, Lockhart, Corowa Shire, Greater Hume Shire
All of this added to the success with Partners in Recovery means that we will come very close to doubling our size and our ability to serve people with a mental illness and their families and carers.
I thank everyone who contributed to this fantastic outcome for the Fellowship, for us. I have been caught a lot in the office. I wish I could get to our many service sites more often, but as I was reminded when I recently visited our Day to Day Living service at North Ryde, the Fellowship has such an amazing group of people. I find over and over when I do get a chance to visit our services, what makes us successful is our staff and volunteers. Thank you all.
These successes mean a lot more work, but I am sure that each and every person will rise to the challenges. I am sure that we all seek the same outcomes – a better deal for our people. Thank you for that, it is a real privilege to be part of this exceptional organisation.
Rob Ramjan AM - CEO Schizophrenia Fellowship of NSW Inc
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Fabulous Fundraiser for the Schizophrenia Fellowship
by NSW Doctors Orchestra - MusicusMedicus and Guest Artists
World Premiere of "Overture" by hugely talented composer and pianist Elena Kats-Chernin
Dvorak's 8th Symphony
Grieg's Piano Concerto by world-renowned soloist Simon Tedeschi
NSW Doctors Orchestra conducted by Dr David Banney
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Sad loss for all of us
Trish Stenning passed away 2 Apr 2013
One of SFNSW's longest serving board members and most enthusiastic volunteers will be greatly missed. She trained most of our volunteers and staff over the years, answered calls on our Helpline with empathy, insight and patience. She conceived our Telephone Outreach Program - which gives weekly calls from volunteers to isolated consumers and has led to life changing events. We have lost a hero!
Read the moving tributes from SFNSW CEO Rob Ramjam and some of Trish's colleagues
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Mental Health Commission of NSW is asking for your feedback
The Mental Health Commission of NSW needs to know the extent to which access to crisis care in NSW is a problem. As a first step they are asking consumers, carers and their families, about their experiences of seeking hospital based care when they feel it was a crisis situation. They want you to tell your story / stories.
Once the Commission have the information directly from people who are using the mental health system they will determine what needs to happen next. Your input towards getting people better and timelier access to care and support will be appreciated.
Ph 02 9859 5200 or email your experiences to mhc@mhc.nsw.gov.au
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 28 Feb 2013 National Institute of Mental Health: Science Update
5 Most Common Mental Illnesses Share the Same Genes
An NIMH funded study, published 28 Feb in Lancet, has shown that 5 major brain disorders: autism, ADHD, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder and schizophrenia, all share 4 common genetic risk factors. This discovery will be useful in shifting psychiatric diagnostics toward a biological basis, and suggests new therapeutic targets.
“These disorders that we thought of as quite different may not have such sharp boundaries,” said Dr. Jordan W. Smoller of Massachusetts General Hospital, one of the lead study authors.
The results suggest that a rethink in how these disorders are defined might be in order. Rather than focusing on symptoms, which can be attributed to one or more disorder, physicians could one day start to rely on specific gene mutations or biologic pathways to make a formal diagnosis.
And it also could lead to better treatments, said Dr. Bruce Cuthbert, director of the NIMH’s Division of Adult Translational Research and Treatment Development. “We are finally starting to make inroads where we have actual physiological mechanisms that we can target,” he said. “We can really start to understand the biology instead of having to guess at it.”
Reference: Cross-Disorder Group of the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium. Identification of Risk Loci with Shared Effects on Five Major Psychiatric Disorders: A Genome-wide Analysis. Lancet, published online February 28, 2013
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 by Liz Szabo - 16 Jan 2013 Link to full story
Obama Calls for Changes to Mental Health Care
Mental health advocates hailed President Obama's sweeping agenda to improve mental health care, part of his larger plan to reduce gun violence in the USA following the shooting last month in Newtown, Conn.
After decades of disappointment, advocates for the mentally ill said they are cautiously optimistic that the nation may finally take meaningful action to repair a broken system. "There are mental health professionals and educators cheering all over America," said Dewey Cornell, director of the Virginia Youth Violence Project, after reading Obama's plan. "No single action is going to solve the problem, but there are many actions here that will help."
Obama's speech — and his emphasis that most people with mental illness are not violent — will go a long way toward removing the stigma of mental illness, said Michael Fitzpatrick, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. He also welcomes a national dialogue on mental health, rather than simply another presidential commission. "These are things we've been asking for, for years," Fitzpatrick said.
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 Recognition and Respect - Mental Health Carers Report 2012
launched 28 November 2012 by the Mental Health Council of Australia
The Recognition and Respect: Mental Health Carers Report 2012 builds on the ground-breaking work of Adversity to Advocacy: the lives and hopes of mental health carers (2009) and the Mental Health Carers report 2010. The report provides an insight into the lives of some of the most dedicated yet vulnerable members of our community: people who regularly carer for someone with a mental illness.
The report is based on a survey of 508 mental health carers focussing on the 15 key issues identified in the 2008-2009 workshops and describes carers perspectives on the services available to them and the people for whom they care.
View or download the Mental Health Carers Report
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Launch of the 2012 National Report Card on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention
27 November 2012 was a landmark day for people with a mental illness and their carers in Australia. The National Mental Health Commission launched its first annual report card.
Rightly, the Chair, Prof Allan Fels, notes in his introduction that this report may not address every request of the many people consulted by the Commission. He notes strongly that this is a starting point which provides the base for future monitoring and reporting. Prof Fels makes a number of critical points which underpin the report. He says that mental health is everyone’s business. He says that every person with a mental illness wants and should have a contributing life. Very importantly he acknowledges the importance of the person’s story whether consumer or carer. These themes continue throughout the report.
The report identifies four priority areas:
- Mental health must be a high national priority for all governments and communities;
- We need to provide “a complete picture” of what is happening and closely monitor and evaluate change;
- We need to agree on the best ways to encourage improvements and get better results; and
- We need to analyse where the gaps and barriers are to achieve a contributing life and agree on Australia’s direction.
It goes on to make 10 recommendations that address many critical areas that the Fellowship has advocated about for years such as employment, permanent and secure homes, increase potential for access to services when they are required, inclusive consultation and engagement with consumers and carers and the physical health of people with a mental illness.
This report acknowledges that about 7.3 million Australians aged 16 to 85 have lived experience of mental illness and that in any one year 3.2 million Australians will experience a mental health difficulty with 1.7 million receiving direct mental health services in 2009-10. The size and potential of the problem is clearly underscored in this report.
by Rob Ramjan, AM
CEO Schizophrenia Fellowship of NSW Inc
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 AAP 29 Nov 2012
The NSW Ombudsman has found people are being kept in mental health facilities longer than they should because of poor planning by medical staff and a lack of support and accommodation in the community.
In his review of the files for 95 people in NSW mental health facilities, Ombudsman Bruce Barbour found over half had been admitted for between 2 and 10 years. 13 had been admitted for over 20 years, while 2 had been admitted as teenagers and had remained in hospital for 40 years.....
..... Mr Barbour said his inquiry had identified patients who should be living in the community. "Our inquiry identified people aged 24 and 25 years who are capable of living in the community with the right support and who have already been in hospital for over five years," Mr Barbour said. "It is unacceptable that these young people may be facing a similar future to others in our review who were admitted to hospital as teenagers and only left when they were discharged to aged care facilities over 40 years later." ... go to full story
View or download SR Denial of Rights: Mental Health Report
View or download SR Denial of Rights: Mental Health Report Recommendations
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   Opinion by Pamela Burton, 28 Nov 2012
When police get it right
In light of the controversy about police use of guns and Tasers, lessons might be learned from the safe and peaceful arrest of Anthony Waterlow in potentially dangerous circumstances.
Pamela Burton tells how the safest weaponry of all - negotiation - was effectively used by NSW police officers trained in arresting people suffering from mental illness ..... read more about Anthony Waterlow's arrest....
.... Anthony Waterlow, it seems, was a direct beneficiary of the NSW Police Mental Health Intervention Team (MHIT) training program, the first of its kind in Australia. One of its aims is to reduce the risk of injury to police and mentally ill people during mental health crisis events. Pilot trials were developed by the NSW Police Force, NSW Health and the Schizophrenia Fellowship NSW (SFNSW) of a four-day course that included field work.
Throughout 2008-9, more than 100 frontline officers were trained and took back their learning to their local area command. Fortuitously, one of the three pilot sites was the Penrith Local Area Command near Windsor where Anthony was arrested.
In July 2009, the MHIT training program was established state-wide, aiming to accredit 10 per cent of operational police officers by 2015. An independent study of the pilot program by Charles Sturt University recommended that the use of Tasers be addressed in the ongoing program, and that consideration be given to including a mental illness awareness module in Taser training programs. Rob Ramjan, the CEO of SFNSW, reports that the wearing of MHIT badges by police itself acts as a circuit breaker.
As at the end of November 2012, the NSW Police MHIT has trained 1,018 frontline officers from around the state in its intensive four-day mental health training program. Recent tragic incidents including those mentioned above have indicated to authorities a clear need for all officers to receive MHIT training of at least one day.
It is understood that the NSW Government is considering extending funding for that purpose, in addition to the current intensive training program. All efforts that encourage negotiation as a de-escalation technique in lieu of Taser use must be applauded. ... full story..
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 22 Nov 2012
Higher suicide rates in remote regions
A SPATE of 13 suicides within 9 weeks in the Riverina is evidence of the mental health crisis facing communities in regional and remote areas of Australia.
A Suicide in Rural and Remote Areas of Australia report, compiled at the request of the Australian Suicide Prevention Advisory Council, has shown disproportionately high rates of suicides in remote regions compared to metropolitan areas. Statistics from Queensland showed men in remote areas were 2.6 times more likely to die by suicide and rural, regional and remote communities face rates of suicide around 20 to 30 per cent higher than in metro areas.
Schizophrenia Fellowship chief Rob Ramjam AM, who was in Wagga yesterday for the five-year anniversary of Sunflower House, said the report was consistent with issues in this area.
"There have been clusters of suicides in the Murrumbidgee area, in one case there were 13 suicides within nine weeks," Mr Ramjam said. "All of those were men from the land. Some of the deaths heard about are by fourth or fifth generation farmers, who for them it's not just about losing their job but their heritage. There is no question over the last few years that the greatest risk is the bloke on the land."
The report showed that regional communities face unique challenges in preventing and recovering from suicide including social isolation, economic stresses and lack of availability of services. .... full Higher suicide rates in remote regions story at The Weekly Advertiser...
Griffith University - Suicide in Rural and Remote Areas of Australia report - view or download the PDF
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National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Draft Legislation
The Australian Government has introduced the draft National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Bill into Parliament. The Bill creates the framework for a national scheme, including eligibility criteria, age requirements, and what constitutes reasonable and necessary support.
When the Bill is introduced to the Parliament, the Government will ask the Parliament to refer the legislation to a Parliamentary Committee for consideration. During this time, the Commonwealth will continue to work with states and territories on the legislation, and consult with people with disabilities, their families and carers on the detail of the Bill, to ensure that they can continue to provide feedback about this important reform. People with disability, their families, carers and advocates will also have an opportunity to comment on the Bill on the Your Say forum on the NDIS website.
View or download NDIS Legislation Overview
View or download NDIS Draft Legislation
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3 million Australians (13.6%) reported having a mental and behavioural condition in 2011-2012
Menzies-Nous Australia Health Survey Report 2012
3 million Australians (13.6%) reported having a mental and behavioural condition, an increase from 11.2% in 2007-08 and 9.6% in 2001. Mood (affective) problems, which include depression, were most prevalent (2.1 million people or 9.7% of the population) followed by anxiety related problems (850,100 people or 3.8%). Mental and behavioural conditions continued to be more common amongst women (15.1%) than men (12.0%).
Long-term health conditions - of the National Health Priority Areas, the most common long-term health conditions experienced in Australia in 2011-12 were:
- arthritis - 3.3 million people (14.8%)
- mental and behavioural condition - 3.0 million people (13.6%)
- asthma - 2.3 million people (10.2%)
- heart disease - 1.0 million people (4.7%)
Download or view full report (PDF)
Australian Bureau of Statistics - Australian Health Survey 2011-2012 link
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SANE Australia SURVEY
When someone living with a mental illness experiences an episode or other form of crisis, there is often a need to contact emergency services – ambulance, police, or a psychiatric crisis team if available. There may be a visit to the hospital emergency department and sometimes admission to a mental health ward.
How well do emergency services respond to help people with a mental illness? What support do they offer to family and friends? If you or someone close to you has had this experience, please complete this short survey so that SANE Australia can develop recommendations for improvement.
Link to SANE SURVEY. SANE Australia will use the findings to advocate on behalf of people affected by mental illness.
The SANE Helpline – 1800 18 SANE (7263) – is available if you want to discuss any issues raised by the survey.
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Talking Anxiety App
SANE Australia and RealTime Health have launched an app to help people to manage their anxiety. Talking Anxiety aims to give people knowledge and confidence to manage the day-to-day challenges of living with an anxiety disorder. The app has 4 modules, ‘Understanding anxiety’, ‘What helps’, ‘How to help yourself’ and ‘How family and friends can help’.
Link to the Talking Anxiety App
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New Moves: Targeting physical and mental well-being in people with mental illness
Health Issues Journal - Issue 108 (Summer 2012) Article: by SFNSW's own Katherine Gill
The New Moves program, developed by The Schizophrenia Fellowship of NSW, specifically targets the physical health and recovery needs of people with a mental illness. New Moves engages participants in exercise activities that target cardiovascular fitness and strength training. Activities are performed in a group environment with peer support, which encourages social interaction and interpersonal skill development. By participating in the preparation of healthy meals and a variety of educational discussion topics, participants learn skills to manage their physical health and long term recovery better. Program evaluation has found significant benefits to physical health, social well-being and quality of life.
To read the full article
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D2DL Stories Online Booklet
This document contains a snapshot of the diverse activities provided by Day to Day Living (D2DL) programs across Australia. D2DL is a structured activity program for people living with mental illness funded by the Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA). Each snapshot is written by a D2DL participant and demonstrates the impact of the D2DL program in their life. D2DL participants give their consent to share their experience and the names have been changed to protect their privacy.
Each D2DL program is different with a range of centre based and community based activities. The D2DL program is available in over 60 locations around Australia, including through the Schizophrenia Fellowship of NSW. Ph 02 97892600 or go to http://www.sfnsw.org.au/Services/Recovery-Services/Day-2-Day-Living/default.aspx for more information.
Link to On-line Booklet - http://www.qldalliance.org.au/d2dl-stories-online-booklet
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