Mental Health

How we think, feel and act in life determines how we handle stress, relate to others and make life choices. Living with mental illness can severely interfere with your or a loved ones daily life. Disorders such as depression, phobias, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and many others are increasingly becoming more prevalent, and yet they are still viewed by society with often incorrect and negative images. The World Health Organisation recognises that in developed countries, 8 out of the 10 leading causes of disability are mental illnesses. Mental illness can not only cripple peoples lives, but increasingly it is crippling our society.

It is the role of our Government to build the capacity of the mental health care system to ensure that West Australians with or at risk of mental illness, and their families and carers, have access to quality health and support services to meet their needs. Alison is supportive of promoting awareness of mental health and advocating for the welfare of people with mental illness.

Information:

{Coming Soon}

Upcoming events:

‘Together’ - Inaugural World Children of Parents with a Mental Illness & the 6th National Child & Adolescent Mental Health Conference, 26 – 28 October 2009, Hilton Adelaide, South Australia Please visit: www.sapmea.asn.au/aicafmha

Links:

  • Greens Policy on Health.
  • Greens Policy on People with Disabilities.
  • The Mental Health Law Centre (MHLC) a Statewide Community Legal Centre specialising in mental health law throughout Western Australia. MHLC's primary service is to provide legal advice and representation to people who are involuntary patients in the mental health system, and may also be able to assist with other legal problems but only if the problem relates directly to mental illness. MHLC also provides legal advice and representation in Guardianship and Administration Act matters and criminal law if the legal issues are directly connected to the mental health problem.
  • Lifeline Call 13 11 14 (24 hour crisis hotline)
  • Kids Help LineCall 1800 800 55 (online counselling)
  • Mensline Call 1300 78 99 78
  • Children of Parents with a Mental Illnessprovides information for family members across Australia where a parent has a mental illness and for people who care for and work with them.
  • Australian Infant Child Adolescent and Family Mental Health Association represents all professions working with Infants, Children and Adolescents and their families in the area of mental health, and all Consumers and Carers
  • Centrelink provides information for people who care for those who are frail and aged, ill, or have a disability. Includes links to payments, services and programs, publications and claim forms.
  • Medicare Australia's universal health insurance scheme has three objectives: to make health care affordable for all Australians; to give all Australians access to health care services with priority according to clinical need, and to provide a high quality of care.
  • Physical Disability Australia represents the interests and views of people with a physical disability accross Australia.
  • Carers Australia Hotline: 02 6122 9900 - is a national peak carer organisation that works to inform and resource carers in Australia. Carers Australia contributes to developing and evaluating Government policy and service arrangements for income support, aged care, community care, disability services and related legislative program reviews. Call the national office for state office contact details.
  • Brain Injury Australia (BIA) is a national peak advocacy organisation in Australia for people with acquired brain injury. BIA's mission is to improve the quality of life for all people with acquired brain injury and their families. BIA's priority is to advocate for their equal access to services and for services to be responsive to their needs.
  • The Disability Services Commission is the State of WA's Government agency responsible for advancing opportunities, community participation and quality of life for people with disabilities. The Commission provides a range of direct services and support and also funds non-government agencies to provide services to people with disabilities, their families and carers.
  • The Department of Health is the principal health authority of WA and is charged with the duty of promoting, maintaining and restoring the health of the people of WA.
  • Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission is responsible for handling complaints under the Racial Discrimination Act 1975, Sex Discrimination Act 1984, Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission Act 1986. Under each of the Acts, complaints of discrimination or breaches of human rights are made to the Commission. The President is responsible for inquiring into and attempting to conciliate the complaint. Where a complaint is terminated for some reason the complainant may then apply to the Federal Court of Australia to have their allegations heard and determined.