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Podcasts
BlogsFor more on the issue of mental health make sure you check out our first program of 2010 featuring Australian of the Year Pat McGorry: Minds at Risk
The Coalition's Real Action Plan for Better Mental Health
This policy was announced by Opposition leader Tony Abbott, Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing Peter Dutton and Shadow Minister for Finance Andrew Robb on June 30, 2010.
Tony Abbott announces mental health policy
Nicola Roxon's mental health announcement after COAG
On 20 April 2010, the Council of Australian Governments
(COAG) agreed, with the exception of
Health & Hospital's network agreement
In June the chairman of the Government's National Advisory Council on mental health, John Mendoza, resigned due to a lack of vision and commitment from the Government to mental health.
Read John Mendoza's letter to the Prime Minister
- 7.30 report interview with Mendoza
- Mendoza article written for Crikey
Getting help and support
24 hour telephone counseling, information and service finder.
The national depression initiative
Youth Beyond Blue - 1300 22 46 36
Confidential telephone counseling service for children and adolescents. Also Parentline for parents and carers of young children, state and territory specific numbers.
Headspace -
Information for young people, parents and carers and places to seek help.
Specialised youth mental health clinical service, research centre and training and communications program.
SANE - 1800 18 SANE (1800 18 7263)
Telephone and online helpline
Online information and support for young people dealing with mental health and wellbeing issues.
Suicide Call Back Service - referral line 1300 659 467
A free, national telephone counselling service for people at risk of suicide, their carers and those bereaved by suicide.
NSW
Rural Mental Health Support Line - 1800 201 123
ACT
Crisis Assessment and Treatment Team - 1800 629 354
24 hour service for assessment and treatment of mentally ill people in crisis situations. Alternative number - (02) 6205 1065
WA
WA Government Crisis Care Helpline - (08) 9223 1111
Freecall - 1800 199 008, 24-hour telephone crisis line.
Mental Health Emergency Response Line - 1300 555 788
Rural freecall - 1800 676 822
POEM BY PETER LANGSTON
Peter Langston reflects on his experience with mental illness through poetry.
Warning Signs
Last week, days were hot, clouds gone
and all that could be done, was.
My share of the world was generous.
Yesterday the sun warmed my back
as I soared on the false wind of a manic day.
This morning it caught the twinkle in my eye
and pearled sweat on my forehead by lunch.
Liberal in its favours,
these treats I assumed were everyone’s
...until late in the afternoon
when that same sun set suddenly on me,
in exclusivity,
leaving me in that awful twilight zone,
that grey announcement
warning of the eclipse ....
... depression.
I know this thing.
It shares my thought space with rationality,
sometimes dulling smarter choices
by clogging synapses with its dark wool
and threatening involuntary acts.
I live with this thing,
an occasional unwanted cranial guest
who stays until it tires of my control,
gained with pills, with management,
with cognitive mind games ... with luck.
It damages, this thing,
but not just the carrier.
Its infection spreads to the love of others,
collateral damage on a battlefield
that only they know isn't all me.
Despite all I know of this enemy,
despite all I can do ,
once it storms my mental ramparts
I can only turn it back ...
... I can never stop it coming.
Fear holds hands with that thought
for I have known days
when I was its ragged puppet
and death - whilst not a victory -
offered at least relief.
Days of no sunrise,
no corner to cower in.
My mind was not mine
but then,
madness is no hiding place.
As the greyness deepens
I'll do what I have to
and beat back the intruder again.
Fear prickling me with incentive
and the price of failure.
Read more of Peter’s poetry here
