Australian Medical Association

The AMA welcomes today’s announcement of a greater investment by Labor in mental health services.

AMA President, Dr Andrew Pesce, said it is another downpayment on the bigger long-term investment needed to make a real difference in meeting the growing mental health needs of the community.

“Today’s long overdue announcement from Labor recognises the problem of the lack of funding for mental health services,” Dr Pesce said.

The AMA welcomes the Coalition’s substantial funding commitment on mental health services, including much needed funding for additional acute and sub-acute mental health beds.

In terms of improved mental health care in Australia, the AMA hopes to see further commitments that will improve patient access to care from specialist psychiatrists in community-based settings

MJA media release - Innovative web services can overcome the barriers that block access to mental health care, according to an article published in a Medical Journal of Australia supplement.

The Delivering timely interventions: the impact of the internet on mental health supplement is the product of a partnership between the Centre for Mental Health Research at the Australian National University and the Brain & Mind Research Institute at the University of Sydney.

Prof Helen Christensen, Director of the Centre for Mental Health Research, and Prof Ian Hickie, Executive Director of the Brain & Mind Research Institute, write that web-based mental health services have the capacity to not only overcome traditional geographical, attitudinal and financial barriers to accessing care, but also to lower overall delivery costs and reduce demands on the clinical workforce.

The appropriate physical, emotional and intellectual development of Australian children and young people is crucial to their later health as adults. A range of factors can impact on developmental health. This position statement brings together recent information and evidence about appropriate developmental health, and makes recommendations about the measures the AMA believes are necessary to ensure it.

AMA President, Dr Andrew Pesce, said today that better targeted support is needed for population groups that are at higher risk of suicide, including young people, those living in rural and remote locations, Indigenous Australians, and the elderly.

Dr Pesce said that recent data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics show that suicide was one of the leading external causes of death for Indigenous people in 2008, and suicide deaths comprised a higher proportion of total deaths in younger people compared with older people.

“The AMA believes that higher risk groups warrant specific measures targeted to their particular circumstances and needs,” Dr Pesce said.

On the eve of World Mental Health Day, AMA President, Dr Andrew Pesce, said there needs to be greater community awareness and education about mental health and a significant boost to mental health funding and services.

Dr Pesce said mental health problems are common in the community and that the Australian Bureau of Statistics has estimated that nearly half of all adult Australians will experience a mental disorder at some point in their life.

What is stress?

Stress is a normal part of everyday life. It is the way our bodies respond to events which are stressful and could be a threat. Crossing the road can become stressful if a car speeds towards us. Once we sense the danger of the oncoming car, the body releases adrenaline, which speeds everything up. Our heart beats faster, we breathe more quickly, we may sweat more or get ‘butterflies’ in our stomach. The brain sends a signal to the body to do something. In this case it would be to run and get out of the way.

What causes stress?

Youth Health: Feeling Down?

AMA and RANZCP Recommended Integrated Government Mental Health Initiatives June 2006

The AMA submission notes that: "Mental health and indigenous health are the two weakest links in the Australian health care system. Both areas suffer from under-funding and under-manning. The health outcomes in both areas are very poor. There is ample scope for Australia to lift its game" The submission addresses what the AMA sees as the majort problems in mental health delivery and opportunities to correct these.