Living Well: A Strategic Plan for Mental Health John Feneley NSW Mental Health Commissioner

NSW Mental Health Commission

The journey to develop a NSW strategic plan for mental health

Living Well: Putting people at the centre of mental health reform in NSW: A Report Released 14 October 2014 Shows an inclusive, authentic portrait of how our present system applies in practice Tells the story of mental health in NSW from the perspective of people who live there. Available at: nswmentalhealthcommission.com.au

Living Well: A Strategic Plan for Mental Health in NSW Released December 2015 “The aim is for all of us to live well, on our terms, in the community.”

‘Once in a Generation’ The NSW Government has accepted the actions outlined in the Commission's plan, which includes: Strengthening prevention and early intervention - with a stronger focus on services for children and young people; A greater focus on community based care - including a phased transition of long-stay psychiatric hospital patients into community care and providing more community based services; Developing a more responsive system - through improved specialist services for people with complex needs such as personality disorders; Working together to deliver person-centred care - including better integration between mental health services, mainstream health, and justice and human services; and, Building a better system – including by developing the mental health workforce, and investing in research.

Directions for change Planning for our future Making it local Getting in earlier Putting people first Providing the right care Better responses Care for everyone Supporting reform Accountability

What change means TD15/522 Positive mental health and wellbeing Participation by people with a mental illness Peer workforce Positive experience of service delivery Proportion of NSW mental health funding spent on community-based services Psychological distress in the community Discrimination and stigma Suicide and suicidal behaviour The use of involuntary treatment orders Proportion of people in the prison population who have a mental illness INCREASING DECREASING

The power of peer workers “All the literature suggests people become more well. In fact you’ll have the most reliable, punctual, engaged staff member you could hope for.” Gabrielle Le Bon, social worker

Leisa, Rohan and Monica’s stories

Why a Peer workforce ? People with lived experience of mental illness hold expertise that is incredibly valuable. People who are living well with mental illness represent hope that is often missing in people’s lives. This doesn’t only apply to health

Supporting the Peer Workforce Infrastructure & Governance Retention Career Pathways Training and Development

QUESTIONS? nswmentalhealthcommission.com.au facebook.com/mhcnsw