People With Psychotic Illnesses Now Better For Longer
The lives of people experiencing psychotic illness have improved markedly compared with 12 years ago, according to the national survey of psychotic illness published on 23 November
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23 November 2011
The lives of people experiencing psychotic illness have improved markedly compared with 12 years ago, according to the national survey of psychotic illness, which was published today.
The Minister for Mental Health and Ageing, Mark Butler today joined SANE Australia to officially launch the report People Living with Psychotic Illness 2010.
Key findings of the report include:
- Involuntary hospital admissions for mental health reasons have decreased by one-third
- Marked increases in the use of community rehabilitation and day programs with the use of community programs up by 60 per cent.
- Fewer people with psychotic illness are now experiencing homelessness, more are in supported accommodation and many more are being supported to live in their own homes or rented accommodation.
“The report shows that the lives of people experiencing psychotic illness have significantly improved over the past 12 years, but that significant challenges remain,” Mr Butler said.
“Over the course of this survey, mental-health related expenditure by the Australian Government has increased by 107 per cent, along with a 90 per cent increase in spending by State and Territory Governments.
“Services have truly shifted from being primarily provided in stand-alone hospitals to being provided in the community. There has been a 70 per cent increase in community-based mental health staff over 12 years.
“Funding has nearly doubled for non-government organisations to provide their services in the community.
“While the survey results are promising, they also point to the ongoing challenge we face to do better for Australians affected by mental illness.
“There still is a huge gap between the physical health of these people and the rest of the population.”
The report showed almost half of all Australians with a psychotic illness are obese, two-thirds smoke — on average 21 cigarettes a day — and more than half have problems with alcohol and drug abuse and dependence.
The report also reinforces the importance of the Gillard Labor Government’s $222 million investment in new youth early psychosis services and the new $549 million ‘Partners in Recovery’ initiative to coordinate and provide support for people with severely debilitating, persistent mental illness and complex needs.
SANE Australia — a national charity working for a better life for people with mental illness, hosted today’s launch of the report.
Executive director of SANE Australia Barbara Hocking said, “the report highlights what people with psychotic illness are telling us are their major challenges.
“They are telling us they need more support to manage their financial matters, gain employment, establish friendships and secure stable housing.
“This shows that there have been significant gains in clinical mental health, but more needs to be done to support people to live well in the community.
“This second report provides some encouraging news while providing a sober reminder that there is still much more to be done to help people with psychotic illnesses maintain their recovery in the community,” Ms Hocking said.
The report is at the:
Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing website
For more information, please contact the Minister’s Office on 02 6277 7280
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