National Mental Health Consumer Alliance

"We are concerned that proposed changes to the definitions of NDIS supports will mean that the most vulnerable people in society will again be unable to receive the supports they need. We are disappointed that there is no evidence that mental health consumers were involved in decision-making around the development of these reforms to the NDIS." Read our full Submission on Draft Lists of NDIS Supports.

National Mental Health Consumer Alliance chief executive Darren Munday called on the government to immediately release the strategy so it could inform an upcoming meeting of national mental health ministers scheduled to take place later this month. “We need to move beyond mental health awareness-raising and take tangible steps to protect the human rights of people with mental health issues,” Mundary said. “The only way to really do that is through a national human rights act.”

So pleased that Janet Meagher AM, Fay Jackson BCVA, Dip.Ed, EBE, GAICD, Michael Burge AM OAM and Victorina (Vicki) McKenna could join the Alliance for the announcement of the National Consumer Peak yesterday. The announcement as important as it was, is not an end point. It is the start of nationally focused, consumer driven advocacy for the policy direction, supports and services we want and not what others decide for us.

It was a great morning announcement where our Chair Priscilla Brice said; “The mental health consumer movement in Australia has been waiting for over a decade for this decision, and we are deeply grateful to all the advocates who have worked extremely hard to lay the foundation for a national peak body,” Thank you to Emma McBride Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention for today’s announcement and we look forward to working with her and her team on a lived experience first approach to mental health policy.

We are thrilled to announce today that the National Mental Health Consumer Alliance has been appointed as the National Peak representing people with a lived experience of mental health issues. This has been the result of hard work by many people, over many years. Today more than any other, we stand on the shoulders of giants. ACT Mental Health Consumer Network BEING - Mental Health Consumers Consumers of Mental Health WA Lived Experience Australia Mental Health Lived Experience Peak Queensland VMIAC Mental Health Lived Experience Tasmania

The National Mental Health Consumer Alliance fully supports the establishment of a National Peer Worker Association. It is critical important that this body be established, and run by peer workers with a lived experience, and be free from the conflicts of interest that may exist with service provision. The Alliance looks forward to working with the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care on the establishment of this much needed initiative. ACT Mental Health Consumer Network, BEING - Mental Health Consumers, LELAN | Lived Experience Leadership & Advocacy Network, Mental Health Lived Experience Peak Queensland, Consumers of Mental Health WA, VMIAC

Alliance Chairperson Priscilla Brice highlights the lack of mental health funding to meet community needs. BEING - Mental Health Consumers ACT Mental Health Consumer Network VMIAC Mental Health Lived Experience Peak Queensland LELAN | Lived Experience Leadership & Advocacy Network Mental Health Lived Experience Tasmania Consumers of Mental Health WA

Accessing mental health supports in regional, rural, or remote communities poses unique challenges compared to a metropolitan context. This paper outlines the position of the Alliance on equitable access to mental health supports that are recovery-oriented, person-centred, affordable and culturally appropriate to people living in regional or remote communities across Australia. Our position begins with a discussion of the barriers specific to regional or remote communities, considering that the categories themselves of ‘regional’, ‘rural’ and ‘remote’ are not homogenous and have varying needs according to size, location, population, and culture, as well as the intersectional identities of individuals who live there. We recognise, for example, that a discussion of regional community need for mental health and community supports in Western Australia (or indeed within specific regional districts within the state) will be very different to discussing the needs of a community in Victoria. This paper examines the role of social determinants of mental health and stigma as factors that contribute to mental health challenges, and also as barriers to seeking help. Consumers of Mental Health WA, ACT Mental Health Consumer Network, BEING - Mental Health Consumers, LELAN | Lived Experience Leadership & Advocacy Network, Mental Health Lived Experience Peak Queensland, VMIAC, Mental Health Lived Experience Tasmania

Congratulations to Finding North, Hayley Harris and all speakers on a wonderful e-symposium and we look forward to the next one. Consumers of Mental Health WA, BEING - Mental Health Consumers Mental Health Lived Experience Peak Queensland, VMIAC, ACT Mental Health Consumer Network, Mental Health Lived Experience Tasmania.

The Mental Health Consumer Alliance is very pleased to be supporting the Finding North Perspectives 2024 e-symposium which will be a great event to hear from some excellent lived experience speakers. Consumers of Mental Health WA, Mental Health Lived Experience Peak Queensland, BEING - Mental Health Consumers, VMIAC, LELAN | Lived Experience Leadership & Advocacy Network, ACT Mental Health Consumer Network, Mental Health Lived Experience Tasmania