Outcome 11: Mental Health > Part 2 Performance Information

In 2006–07, beyondblue progressed all key outcomes in the Strategic Framework for Action: Opening our eyes to depression across Australia 2005–2010. Particular highlights included activities relating to community awareness and destigmatisation, as well as prevention and early intervention.

Departmental participation on the beyondblue Board and funding for the National Depression Initiative has supported beyondblue to achieve progress in the following areas:

• in July 2006, beyondblue began a rural advertising campaign to tackle depression in men, in conjunction with a new beyondblue information line (1300 224 636);
• in September 2006, beyondblue launched its second series of national advertisements aimed at raising awareness of depression, anxiety and associated drug and alcohol problems;
• in March 2007, beyondblue launched its ‘Don’t Beat About the Bush' drought campaign and joint Community Service Announcement with the Rural Doctors Association of Australia, aimed at encouraging rural Australians to see their local general practitioner if they are down or depressed; and
• the beyondblue National Perinatal Mental Health Program was launched in March 2007 to develop a national action plan to address depression and related difficulties in women during pregnancy and in early parenthood.

82.9% of schools with secondary enrolments, or 2,512 schools from 3,029, have now attended some form of MindMatters professional development since 2000. This includes an additional 101 schools which participated in MindMatters professional development from April 2006 to 2007.

The target for Phase 2 of MindMatters is to maintain over 80.0% of secondary schools participating in MindMatters professional development. This target has been adjusted to allow for changes in the way schools are counted, school closures, and a decrease in the proportion of participants in professional development training.

Data on the increased number of calls answered by phone counselling services is not available until November 2007 however, during the year, the Department increased the availability of mental health information by supporting:

• Lifeline over a five year period, to improve access to its national telephone counselling service through improvements to infrastructure and an additional 25 telephone counselling seats across Australia. Service quality will also be improved with additional supervision for Lifeline telephone counsellors and the development of a national referral database for mental health services; and
• BoysTown over a 2.5 year period to expand the Kids Help Line phone and web-based counselling service.

The first 8 months (November 2006 to June 2007) of uptake for the new Medicare Benefits Schedule items under the Better Access initiative has been positive, indicating the initiative is meeting community demand for services. Some 600,000 services by clinical and registered psychologists have been rebated through Medicare, indicating significant numbers of people are accessing these services.

All Divisions have assessed the impact of new primary mental health care initiatives on their Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care Access to Allied Psychological Services projects. Where appropriate, plans have noted relationships between Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care Access to Allied Psychological Services projects and new primary mental health care initiatives like Better Access.

431 new mental health nursing places and 210 new clinical psychology places have been included by the Department of Education, Science and Training in relevant higher education providers’ 2007 Commonwealth Grant Scheme Funding Agreements.

The Department of Education, Science and Training has the main responsibility for achieving this specific target. The Department of Health and Ageing has successfully implemented the Mental Health Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme to support the growth in psychology and mental health nursing places. In 2007, the scheme is providing 75 scholarships worth $10,000 each to students undertaking postgraduate training in clinical psychology and mental health nursing.

In 2006–07, policy research focused on providing an evidence base for the development and implementation of new COAG mental health initiatives, including the Support for Day to Day Living and the Mental Health Services in Rural and Remote Areas initiatives.

Policy research has been completed in a way which has enabled the timely, targeted and informed implementation of a range of new mental health programs associated with the Government’s mental health reform package. It has also provided information to support the Government’s understanding of the mental health needs of people in drought affected communities. As a result, the Department is reviewing implementation arrangements for the Mental Health Services in Rural and Remote Areas Initiative to better respond to these needs.

The Department has taken advantage of a number of opportunities to present at national and international conferences and at stakeholder meetings to outline the initiatives it is implementing under the Government’s Mental Health Reform Package and to seek advice and input on planning and implementation issues.

Forums included the State-based COAG Mental Health Group meetings, Indigenous Strategies Working Group meetings and an Implementation Interdepartmental Committee.

Liaison with stakeholders has enabled better alignment of new Commonwealth, and State and Territory government initiatives to ensure that people with severe and persistent mental disorders have access to a coordinated system of care.