Roxon commits to mental health reform

(AAP) Nicola Roxon is staking her success as federal health minister on getting Australia to invest in preventing mental health problems.
Ms Roxon made the comment as she committed the federal government to better targeting a suicide prevention strategy, and announced members of a mental health advisory council, in Canberra on Thursday.

"I have a very strong view that if one thing I can achieve as health minister is to
get us to talk about and focus more on ... what we can do in the prevention area ...
what we can do to ensure that people can live happier and healthier lives for
longer, then I would have achieved something very significant," she said.

Ms Roxon said when she took on the health portfolio she was surprised at how heavy
the focus was on the crisis end of care at the expense of early intervention.
"No one wants us to neglect people that are in crisis but it will be a downward
spiral if we don't invest more early on," she told the Mental Health Council of
Australia (MHCA) function.

"That is a personal ambition, to be able to turn that trend around and I think it is
going to be a big, long challenge and I'm excited about doing it."
In 2006, 1,799 people killed themselves in Australia, while more than 25,000 were
admitted to hospital for self-harm.

In any year, nearly one in five Australians will experience some type of mental
illness, costing the nation $9.6 billion in lost productivity.
Ms Roxon committed the government to reforming the mental health system, which she
said was plunged into crisis by the unilateral and poorly targeted approach of the
Howard government.

"In mental health, as in so many parts of the health system, a more collaborative
approach is required," she said.

The Australian Health Ministers' Conference, together with the mental health and
housing ministers, will meet for the first time next month to collaborate on mental
health.

Ms Roxon announced an Australian Suicide Prevention Advisory Council would be
established to advise the government on better targeting the National Suicide
Prevention Strategy, at a cost of $20.6 million.
"Suicide rates have declined in Australia over recent years, however a closer look
at the data shows this is not the case across the board," she said.
"Some parts of Australia, such as areas in Tasmania and the Northern Territory, have
higher suicide rates than the rest of the country.

"Certain population groups, such as indigenous people, people with mental illness,
and people in rural and remote areas are at significantly higher risk."

Almost $2 million will go to the Black Dog Institute for a mobile phone system that
helps people manage their wellbeing.
Ms Roxon also released details of the previously announced commonwealth- and
state-funded $85 million National Perinatal Depression Plan.
Under the plan, women will be routinely screened once during pregnancy and once
afterwards.

Health professionals will be supported by national screening guidelines and training.
Ms Roxon also announced the make-up of the National Advisory Council of Mental
Health, which will be chaired by former MHCA chief executive John Mendoza.

Other council members include MHCA chief executive David Crosbie, Lifeline Australia
chief executive Dawn O'Neil and Brain and Mind Institute executive director Ian Hickie.