New SA Mental Health Strategic Plan

About

This engagement has now closed.

This is your opportunity to provide input to our State’s new Mental Health Strategic Plan and help set the direction for the mental wellbeing of South Australians into the future.

What is being planned?

The SA Mental Health Commission is leading the development of the State's Mental Health Strategic Plan, which aims to strengthen the mental health and wellbeing of South Australians. You are encouraged to share your ideas and suggestions about what should be included in the Plan.

The Plan will provide strategic direction for action plans to build, sustain and strengthen the mental health and wellbeing of South Australians.

The SA Mental Health Commission is offering many new ways to share your views and join a conversation. These opportunities are open until May 31 and further details are available at http://samentalhealthcommission.com.au/our-work/sa-mental-health-plan

There are so many ways to talk to us – from conversations facilitated by the SA Mental Health Commission to “pop-up” conversations, online forums, information sessions, feedback from family, friends or community organisations, creative opportunities such as creating artworks and comics, and broader stakeholder meetings.

And you can continue to share your thoughts here on YourSAy’s Discussion Board.

We look forward to receiving your responses to 4 Key Questions:

What’s going on here in SA in relation to our mental health and wellbeing – in our systems and organisations, in our professional and working lives, in our personal lives and relationships?

• What’s helping? (What can we build on? What can we showcase or support?)
• What’s doing harm? Where can we prevent harm and reduce risks?
• How do we support our communities to be mentally healthier?
• What else should we be aware of when developing a new Mental Health Plan Strategic Plan for SA?

One in five South Australians is likely to experience a mental health issue in any given year, and as many as half of us are likely to experience mental health problems in our lifetime.

The new Mental Health Strategic Plan is not just about mental illness and the public and private systems. The Commission is taking a whole-of-community, whole-of-government, whole-of-life approach to mental health as it works towards strengthening the mental wellbeing of South Australians. We are looking for feedback on how government agencies, such as housing, education, employment, justice and disability, non-government and private sectors interact with each other to maximise positive outcomes for people who experience mental health problems, and their families and friends.

The plan will also look at prevention, education and anti-stigmatisation and the provision of early support for children, young people and adults when they first experience symptoms, as well as the support available for people working in mental health services.

Even if you have not had any contact with mental health services, the Commission wants to hear your thoughts about what should be included in the Plan.

How can your input influence the Plan?

Throughout the consultation process, your feedback will assist with the development of the State’s new Mental Health Strategic Plan. Your comments will help set the direction for what is needed to support and strengthen the mental health and wellbeing of South Australians.

Provide your feedback on the Mental Health Plan by:

• Joining the online discussion.
• Completing a quick survey by 5.00 pm 12 May: surveymonkey.com/r/SAMHC
• Go to samentalhealthcommission.com.au to see the many ways you can join a conversation up until May 31.
• Sending an email to the SA Mental Health Commission at samhc@sa.gov.au.
• Writing to the SA Mental Health Commission: GPO Box 189, Rundle Mall, SA 5000.

Please continue to put in your submissions – we need to hear from you!

How will your input be used?

The new Mental Health Strategic Plan for South Australia will continue to be developed over the next few months, with input from stakeholders and community members through to 31 May 2017. You will have an opportunity to hear about the Commission’s key findings at various forums across SA in June 2017 and can register to be kept updated on the development of the Plan.

Want to know more?

• Visit samentalhealthcommission.com.au and learn about how the Commission is leading the development of the Plan and how you can be part of the conversation.
• Email samhc@sa.gov.au.
• Receive updates via the SA Health Commission eNewsletter.
• Follow us on Twitter @SAMHC_.
• Find us on Facebook @SAMentalHealthCommission.