Introduction

A personal perspective

“In order to better the social and emotional wellbeing of the people they seek to serve, it is essential for all services to work better to understand the world as it is seen through the eyes of those with personal experience of mental illness, mental ill health or emotional distress.

“Our differences in backgrounds, cultures, lands and personal struggles may seem vast at times but what draws us together is the strength of our community and our shared experiences. We are all in this together and must design solutions to any problems we face with empathy, solidarity and purpose.”

Wayne Oldfield, Aboriginal Lived Experience Representative to the National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Forum and Past Director of the Aboriginal Health Council of SA. Wayne is a descendant from the Peerapper Language Group/Clan, and identifies as Palawa, meaning Aboriginal Tasmanians as a collective group, and has lived in country South Australia for 45 years.

A few words from the Country SA PHN CEO

“It is only through working together that we will be able to address fragmentation of services and support mental health and suicide prevention reform priorities at a regional level to achieve more effective, patient-centred care for South Australians.

“Country SA PHN is here to support regional Local Health Networks (LHNs), Government, regional Suicide Prevention Networks and community advocates to do just that; build and share our strengths and together confront our challenges head on.”

Kim Hosking, Country SA PHN CEO

The Government’s vision for mental health reform

“PHNs over the next five years will serve as commissioners of primary care mental health services and as a system integrator.

“They cannot achieve mental health reform and system transformation on their own, and all stakeholders within the complex mental health and social care system have a role to play.”

Reform and System Transformation – A Five-Year Horizon for PHNs (September 2018)