Mental Health Lived Experience Peak Queensland

Don't Forget! 🔔 Our Member Forum with Commissioner Scott McDougall of the Queensland Human Rights Commission is coming up! Next Tuesday, September 10th from 5:30pm to 7:00pm. RSVP here to let us know if we'll see you in-person or online: https://lnkd.in/gPAAmhiJ

MHLEPQ finds the executive summary and recommendations from the Prince Charles Hospital investigation both predictable and disappointing. We had hoped the investigation would have put the dead and injured persons perspective at the centre of the investigation, unfortunately it appears that the system and status quo was the focus. Not surprisingly, the recommendations are for better facilities and more staff but saying nothing about culture, forced care in a locked ward and/or human rights. While we have not accessed the full report yet the executive summary and recommendations can be found here: https://lnkd.in/ecsBXy9g

H̳o̳w̳ ̳c̳o̳u̳l̳d̳ ̳o̳u̳r̳ ̳h̳u̳m̳a̳n̳ ̳r̳i̳g̳h̳t̳s̳ ̳l̳a̳w̳s̳ ̳b̳e̳ ̳i̳m̳p̳r̳o̳v̳e̳d̳?̳ ̳ In Queensland, Susan Harris Rimmer is undertaking a review of their Human Rights Act 2019. I was fortunate to play a small part in supporting Mental Health Lived Experience Peak Queensland's Jorgen Gullestrup and Rebecca Bear PhD to prepare their submission for this inquiry. Highlighting the value a HRA has to mental health systems, MHLEPQ highlighted several areas where it was failing: ❌ Discrimination, Stigma and Unconscious Bias across the mental health system, embodied most clearly by mental health laws. ⚕ Rights breaches and their connection with reductive biomedicine. 😫 Inhuman and degrading treatment, as well as a lack of justice in closed environments 🤕 Trauma, human rights breaches and their relationship with further distress and health inequities. 📉 An incomplete human rights culture across Qld Health and public health services. MHLEPQ had many recommendations, including: 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 1: 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 - expand the rights under the HRA to better reflect the CRPD and ICESCR. 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 2: 𝐑𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 - require the Qld govt to report on its compliance against international treaties like the CRPD. 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 3: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐏𝐬𝐲𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐝𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐲 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐜𝐭 2016 (𝐐𝐥𝐝) - requiring the CP to consult the Queensland Human Rights Commission on policies established under the Mental Health Act 2016. 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 4: 𝐑𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐛𝐲 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬 - create a comprehensive suite of duties to ensure public authorities are better equipped to embed human rights, and that there is more rigorous application of their duties across all of their work. 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 5: 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐝𝐮𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 “𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧” 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐇𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐑𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐀𝐜𝐭 - amend the HRA2019 to ensure that public authorities need to publish where/how they consider human rights. .....and many more, including a participation duty, removing Parliament's ability to override the HRA and reviewing the mental health system's governance to see if it is even structured to uphold and protect human rights! Want to read it all? Here: https://lnkd.in/gxw5msC4

Our Policy person Bec and new Engagement lead Rahim, were at TheMHS Learning Network Inc. Annual Conference in Canberra, where they had an insightful chat with Matthew Magain, Chief Doodler at Sketch Group, about the complexity in capturing people's experience in real-time. They discussed the challenges of digesting people's words into something small but palatable. With Matthew’s long-standing expertise, he present how Sketch Group transform complex messages into hand-drawn visuals demonstrates his impressive skill in visual storytelling. Learn more about Sketch Group here: https://lnkd.in/dmPP9ECA #themhsconference2024 #themhslearningnetwork #FindingCommonGround

The Truth-telling and Healing Inquiry will host a Ceremonial Hearing in Meanjin, Brisbane to formally mark the commencement of hearings across the state.      This Ceremonial Hearing is the symbolic opening of the Inquiry. It will include a Welcome to Country and Smoking Ceremony, traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander performances, opening prayer, opening remarks from Inquiry Chair, Mr Joshua Creamer, and addresses from Counsel assisting the Inquiry.     The Ceremonial Hearing is open to all members of the public. We invite you to attend in person or view the online live stream broadcast.    Learn more and register here - https://ems.gs/3SlV0kJfnNI

Queensland’s Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services, the Hon. Shannon Fentiman MP, has announced a $9 million grant boost for community mental health and wellbeing. Held at the Arafmi Ltd Carer Hub, QAMH Board Member and Stepping Stone CEO Melanie Sennett and QAMH Project Lead – Brand and Communications Lisa Greenaway attended the event, learning that grants of up to $150,000 to support mental health and wellbeing will be offer to community groups and organisations to support and improve mental health and wellbeing. The morning presented a wonderful opportunity to speak directly to the Minister, as well as catch up with sector colleagues such as the Arafmi team, Drew Cummins from World Wellness Group and Jorgen Gullestrup, CEO of Mental Health Lived Experience Peak Queensland (MHLEPQ). Moving speeches were made by unpaid carers who use the Arafmi services (such as respite), stressing the importance of having community mental health services available to Queenslanders. ABOUT THE GRANTS Delivered by the Queensland Mental Health Commission over three years, the $9M grants program will be an opportunity for not-for-profit groups to implement local projects and initiatives that respond to the unique needs of their local community. This investment is part of State Government’s Better Care Together plan to improve mental health, alcohol and other drug services across the state.

Save the Date! 📆 Join us for our September Member Forum with Scott McDougall, Commissioner of the Queensland Human Rights Commission, on Tuesday, September 10th, 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM. Whether you’re joining us in person or online, let us know via this short form: https://lnkd.in/gPAAmhiJ

Our policy person Bec felt privileged to represent MHLEPQ at this year's TheMHS Learning Network Inc. Annual Conference in Canberra. Thursday’s keynote was delivered by Amanda Tattersall, who self-identifies with bipolar and experiences of psychosis. A social change agent with a passion for learning to find common ground across individual and collective “sameness” and “difference". She encouraged us to use storytelling and relationship-building to strengthen our collective. Hot on her heels was musician and change-maker Ben Drysdale (pictured), with his beautiful new single “Listen Now”, with 50% of of all sales being donated to suicide prevention. Check out these links to find out more: TheMHS Conference Canberra 2024 https://lnkd.in/gQzf8a72 Amanda’s ChangeMakers Podcast: https://lnkd.in/geUd-Yuj Ben Drysdale’s website: https://lnkd.in/gxzGZjgM... #TheMHSLearningNetwork #TheMHSConference2024 #FindingCommonGround

MHLEPQ's member and Psychosocial Support Lived Experience Group Lead, Jordan and CEO Jorgen met with the Minister for Mental Health Shannon Fentiman MP at the opening of Arafmi's Carers Hubb. The Minister announced $9M to be distributed as grants of up to $150,000 each for community based mental health activities.

August Member MeetUp Recap! Last night’s Member MeetUp brought forward some powerful discussions. Thank you to all the MHLEPQ members who joined us, both in person and online. We covered important topics such as truth-telling, psychosocial strategies, updates from our special interest groups and upcoming events. We look forward to continuing these discussions at the next meetup and to share in another hearty meal 🍔