By Cam Lucadou-Wells
More than 170 people registered for a consultation in Dandenong as part the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System.
The consultation was broken up into eight round-table discussions with a Commissioner and consumers, carers, workers and others involved in mental health.
Royal Commission chairperson Penny Armytage said several themes emerged in the “powerful” sessions.
She described them as a “preliminary stage” where issues emerge for later investigation.
“From the Commission’s point of view this is our listening and reflecting phase.”
There were positive stories. Such as growing awareness about mental health issues, the capable workers in the sector, and some good outcomes in early intervention and support services.
On the other hand, families told of how difficult it was to access support for adolescents, the lack of in-patient beds and the abbreviated period of in-patient care.
Some had talked about police officers being their first point of contact rather than CAT team specialists who could deliver a “comprehensive mental health response”.
Others expressed a need for more peer-support workers who had “lived experience” to help patients and consumers.
“The complexity of the system is clearly coming through as difficult for participants even for those with good health literacy and who work in it.”
Through the sessions, there was an “enormous sense of humanity and good-will” and a willingness to share stories, Ms Armytage said.
Participants had thought deeply on how to make the service better, she said.
Star Journal has recently reported on a frustrated single father unable to access critical care for his teenage son, as well as a Casey Hospital patient who revealed a harrowing experience as an in-patient.
Consultations continue across the state until 22 May.
