Media Release

9 October 2005

Call for community voice on World Mental Health Day

Nurses and other community members should use World Mental Health Day on October 10 to call for a greater government commitment to mental health services, according to ANF federal secretary Jill Iliffe.

Ms Iliffe, who will join the Human Rights Commissioner, politicians, athletes, and the Mental Health Council of Australia (MCHA) in tomorrow's Canberra Lake Walk to mark World Mental Health Day, said mental health was an issue affecting all Australians, and it was important everyone played their part in securing better mental health services.

'Almost every family in Australia will be affected by mental health problems at some stage, but currently fewer than 40% of people who require mental health care actually receive it in a 12-month period.

'This is mainly because spending on mental health accounts for just over 6% of the total health budget, even though mental illness accounts for over 15% of the total health burden.

'While World Mental Health Day is an important opportunity for individuals to focus on their own mental health, it is also an opportunity to speak as a community, and give a loud and clear message to government that this funding inequity must be addressed,' Ms Iliffe said.

'The recent national survey on mental health care (conducted by the MHCA, the Brain and Mind Research Institute and the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission), found inadequate funding and a lack of staff were forcing the premature discharge of people from acute inpatient services, and nurses and other clinicians were struggling to provide adequate support.

'On World Mental Health Day, I urge all nurses and community members to let the government know they demand a greater commitment to mental health; that they want the government to deliver the necessary resources so nurses can deliver the standard of care they are ready to provide,' Ms Iliffe said.
Ms Iliffe said the ANF was calling for funding to be increased immediately, particularly in the community sector, with a reporting mechanism established to ensure positive outcomes for both mental health care consumers and care providers.

'We also need funding for a significant increase in the number of mental health nurses, with the Australian Government funding an immediate increase in the number of undergraduate places for nurses, as well as targeted scholarships for postgraduate mental health courses.

'These measures would boost the number of qualified mental health nurses immediately, and ensure they are adequately prepared to provide the services the community needs,' Ms Iliffe said.



The ANF, representing 145,000 members, is the professional and industrial voice for nurses in Australia.

Media inquiries:

Jill Iliffe, ANF Federal Secretary: 0419 576 590
Victoria Gilmore, Federal Professional Officer: 0409 221 699