Mental health consumers teach politicians F
lourish Mental Health Action In Our Hands is a not-for-profit community organisation established to ensure that mental health consumers’ rights, responsibilities and opinions are respected by policy-makers, service providers and the Tasmanian community. Flourish’s main role is systemic advocacy and this work is led by consumer groups that meet once a month in the state’s three regions. In the lead-up to the 2013 federal election, the Flourish Regional Advisory Groups requested public forums where the main political candidates for Denison, Bass and Braddon would discuss their views on mental health and answer questions. The theme of the forums was “Is the Federal Government doing enough in Mental Health?”. The forums, facilitated by ABC journalists Airlie Ward and Emily Bryan, drew 80 people in Hobart, 70 in Launceston and 55 in Devonport. About half of the questions at each forum came from mental health consumers and the other half from carers. Most of the questions were about the availability of services and psychiatrists, particularly outside Hobart, and the gaps that exist when making the transition back into the community from in-patient care.
Federal candidates speak at the Flourish forum in Devonport.
Bringing the forums together was a major undertaking for Flourish but it was well worth the effort to put mental health firmly on the political agenda. The consumer engagement aspect of the forums was also invaluable. Mental health consumers, particularly consumer leaders, are generally quite vocal and are rarely shy about coming forward at events like this. However one consumer attending the forum in Devonport said at the start of the event that she
wanted to ask a question but she couldn’t because she felt disempowered. In the end, she did pluck up the nerve to ask her question. That alone – to have given a voice to one consumer who previously had none – made the forums worthwhile. Some of the political candidates wrote to Flourish afterwards to express their gratitude at having participated in the forums, saying they had learned a lot about mental health policy issues from the well-informed consumers. Darren Jiggins,
Executive Officer, Flourish Mental Health Action In Our Hands Inc
Join TasCOSS TasCOSS has been working as an advocate for low-income and otherwise disadvantaged Tasmanians since 1961. TasCOSS members, both organisational and individual, share and support our vision of a fair, just and inclusive Tasmania. Membership of TasCOSS starts from as little as $50 a year for or-
ganisations (depending on operating income) and is $57 a year for waged individuals ($15 concession or unwaged). Membership fees are tax-deductible. Members receive: • Discounts on all TasCOSS training and events, including TasCOSS state conferences. • Eligibility to attend and vote at
TasCOSS meetings. • Eligibility to vote in elections for the TasCOSS Board. • Eligibility to stand for election to the TasCOSS Board. • Eligibility for appointment to TasCOSS regional councils. To find out more about TasCOSS membership visit www.tascoss. org.au, or call 6231 0755.
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