Lifeline Applauds COAG focus on Mental Health

Release date: 10 Feb 2006

Commonwealth, state and territory leaders have an historic opportunity at today’s COAG meeting to deliver a coordinated national approach to address Australia’s mental health crisis, says Lifeline Australia CEO, Ms Dawn Smith.

Commonwealth, state and territory leaders have an historic opportunity at today’s COAG meeting to deliver a coordinated national approach to address Australia’s mental health crisis, says Lifeline Australia CEO, Ms Dawn Smith.

Ms Smith congratulated Prime Minister John Howard and NSW Premier Morris Iemma on their leadership in the lead-up to COAG and called on all political leaders to use this COAG meeting to help the many millions of Australians with mental health problems or disorders get the support and services they need.

"We need our political leaders to line-up on this important area of health and jointly develop solutions to Australia’s mental health crisis. We need a broad suite of initiatives. It can't be simplistic," she said.

"COAG needs to look at existing non-government organisations working at the coal face of mental health. Lifeline’s experiences, networks and infrastructure should be considered a critical part of whatever solutions are developed at the COAG meeting."

"There is great opportunity to better support and coordinate many of the services and to look for new ways to open doors for people suffering mental health problems."

Ms Smith said Lifeline's 24-hour telephone counseling service was an essential element of a contemporary and comprehensive mental health system. Through its network of highly trained volunteer counselors, Lifeline was assisting people in the very early and critical stages of a mental illness - the very time when improvements can be made.

"Lifeline volunteers often refer callers to appropriate services or simply give them the support they need to get through the crisis they are facing at that time. In many cases intervention by our counselors is circumventing the need for people to present at hospital emergency departments," she said.

"We are a key source of social and emotional support for the large number of people living with mental illness in Australia each day. We handle more than 500,000 calls each year and are already the after hours referral point for many mental health services, GPs, psychologists, psychiatrists and other allied health services. Many commonwealth and state government services advise clients to call Lifeline if they are in crisis."

Ms Smith applauded the calls for a more national approach to mental health. "Whatever the outcomes of COAG one thing is certain, mental health is now a national issue and we need a bi-partisan national approach to address the problems. I believe by bringing together the best service providers we can build a system that keeps people well and aids full recovery."

Media Contact: Ian Paterson (ph: 0410 44 22 36)