Mental Health: Overview : SBS Insight

Overview

This week we discuss who has the best mental health policy?

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The Government has announced a $277 million package focused on suicide prevention, men and young people.

The Opposition has already pledged to inject 1.5 billion into mental health if elected.

But does any of it address the real problems in the community?

The Government and the Opposition face off with Psychiatrist and Australian of the Year Patrick McGorry and former advisor to the Government John Mendoza.

And our swinging voters will deliver their verdict on mental health policy. To find out more about The Panel and follow them online, click here.

For more on Mental Health - check out our first show of 2010 Minds at Risk

Meet the Guests

Peter Dutton

Peter Dutton is the Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing. He recently joined Opposition leader Tony Abbott to announce the Coalition’s Real Action Plan for Better Mental Health. The policy promised that if the Coalition is elected it will allocate $1.5 billion towards an expansion of mental health services. He is the Federal Member for Dickson in Queensland

Mark Butler

Mark Butler is the Parliamentary Secretary for Health. He is the Federal Member for Port Adelaide in South Australia.The Government has announced a $277 million package focused on suicide prevention, men and young people.

John Mendoza

Professor John Mendoza recently resigned as the Chair of the Government’s National Advisory Council on mental health. He quit over what he says was the Government’s lack of vision and commitment to mental health.

Rachel Siewert

Rachel Siewert is the spokesperson for Health and Ageing for The Greens and a Senator for Western Australia. Senator Siewert has also been the Chair of the Senate Community Affairs inquiry on suicide and suicide prevention.

Professor Patrick McGorry

The Australian of the Year for 2010 Psychiatrist Patrick McGorry is a renowned leader in the field of youth mental health.

His pioneering work, particularly in the area of early psychosis, has won him both national and international recognition.

As well as being a professor of youth mental health at the University of Melbourne, he is the Executive Director of Orygen Youth Health, a world-renowned youth mental health organisation and is on the board of Headspace, an initiative of the National Youth Mental Health Foundation.

Elaine Goddard

Elaine is a carer for her 24 year old son who was diagnosed with schizophrenia when he was 17. She says mental health services are stretched for staff and resources and don’t provide enough support to families like hers. Elaine lives in the marginal electorate of Macquarie in NSW and says mental health policy will decide her vote in the upcoming election.

Glenn Pilley

Glenn Pilley has been selling The Big Issue for more than a year. Glenn has had mental health problems which went untreated for six years. He has experienced homelessness and has spent time in jail. He is back on track these days but says there is nothing in the Opposition's policy to help him and older consumers.