An indoor labyrinth provided a centre-piece for Mental Health Week activities in Healesville last week.
By Kath Gannaway
RIVENDELL, a community support service for people with mental health problems, hosted an event at Healesville Memorial Hall on Friday as part of Mental Health Week.
The afternoon provided a showcase for art work by Rivendell participants as well as musical entertainment, labyrinth walks and a community lunch.
Mental Health Minister Lisa Neville launched Mental Health Week on 10 October with a reminder to the public it was a 365 day a year issue for many people.
“One in five of us are expected to experience a mental illness in our lifetime, so there are few things more important than making sure we have a strong, supportive health system,” she said.
Ms Neville also called on the community to have a say on new legislation governing mental health.
The Government is seeking public comment on the Mental Health Bill 2010 which is currently out for public comment.
Ms Neville said it was important that the Act was consistent with the Because Mental Health Matters mental health strategy developed for the future.
Key features of the Bill include changes around compulsory orders, compulsory treatment only as a last resort, provision of independent checks on compulsory orders, new protection for children and young people, including a prohibition on the administration of ECT to children 12 and under and establishment of an independent Mental Health Commissioner.
Public comment can be made by going to www.health.vic.gov.au/mentalhealth/mhactreview.
There were calls also last week from the Australian Medical Association (AMA) for more mental health care co-ordinators saying people with mental illnesses living in the community were missing out on public housing, basic medical care and drug and alcohol support services because of a shortage of co-ordinators.
Earlier this year the Eastern Ranges GP Association called on the Federal Government to commit to a Headspace facility for young people in Yarra Ranges. Chief executive officer Kristin Michaels said although Yarra Ranges Council had significantly more hospitals admissions for mental disorders than the Victorian State average and that young people accounted for the highest proportion of hospital admissions to mental health units, the outer east had been overlooked in successive Federal Government funding rounds.
