Mental ill health and particularly suicide takes such a terrible toll on families, friends and society it is difficult to understand how support for those suffering is largely left up to families and communities through voluntary support organisations.  I say ‘largely’ because it is true there are government programs and social enterprises such as religious organisations and a variety of (under) funded organisations, staffed by poorly paid support workers, who do their best for people in need.

While looking for background on Mental Health funding I found a submission made to the government by The Australian Institute for Suicide Research based at Griffith University.  My search was prompted by the advertisement for a Mental Health Summit on the Coast, and the recent GetUp campaign for mental health funding to be put on the agenda for the recent COAG meeting.  

The ensuing ‘GoogleTour’ was illuminating to say the least. The things you can find with open access to the world wide web of information............but I digress, that’s another campaign.

I was shocked to read that there are more than 1.5 times as many deaths from suicide than road deaths each year!  I was even more appalled to read that the survivors of suicide, a conservative estimate being 6 drastically affected survivors ( around 12,000 new suicide survivors a year) for each death, are not likely to receive ongoing medicare funded treatment even though they may suffer severe distress for years after.

And if that wasn’t enough, I read that the chairman of the National Advisory Council on Mental Health quit his position on Friday, apparently disappointed with funding for mental health in the federal health budget. 

Reflecting on suicide and survivor figures and the estimates for mental illness in total – 1 in 5 people are likely to suffer a mental illness at some time in their life, we are all likely to know someone who is suffering.

Democratic governments enjoy stability only if people are happy – they have a role to play but if they won’t step up willingly then it’s up to us.   The least we can do from today is find a little generosity and tolerance for someone who seems to be not coping too well.

In a free market economy, demand is supposedly automatically met by supply. One has to question whether free market economics works for everyone.

The demand for mental health services, the experts say, is $5b over 5 years but the government has allocated just $175m. The least we can do for the longer term is join the call for ‘More-Than-Scraps’ funding for Mental Health.

Australian of the Year, psychiatrist Patrick McGorry, will be on the Coast this week as part of the Mental Health Summit.

Mental Health Summit  at the Sunshine Coast University on 24-25 June 2010 is aiming to develop a statement for regional action on mental health. You can contribute your perspective online if you can’t attend.

The Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention  based at Griffith University offers education and undertakes research in suicide prevention – they have made a solid submission to the Senate hearing on suicide.

useful links on the government website aimed at supporting supporters and carers.