Mental Health Planning in Queensland. Dr Aaron Groves Director of Mental Health. 08/04/2011

I would like to pay my respect and acknowledge the Wurundjeri, Boonerwrung, Taungurong, Djajawurrung and the Wathaurung people who make up the Kulin Nation the area we call Melbourne. In addition I acknowledge the Turrbal people part and present on whose land I walk, I work and I live.

National Mental Health Strategy Mental Health Statement of Rights and Responsibilities 1991 National Mental Health Policy 1992 National Mental Health Plan, 1992–98  Medicare Agreements Second National Mental Health Plan,1998–03  Australian Health Care Agreements National Mental Health Plan 2003–08  Australian Health Care Agreements COAG National Action Plan for Mental Health National Mental Health Policy 2008  Fourth National Mental Health Plan States and Territory mental health policies, plans and strategies  Queensland Plan for Mental Health

The Policy Context 2008 National Mental Health Policy: principles underpinning future mental health reform To promote the mental health and wellbeing of the Australian community and, where possible, prevent the development of mental health problems and mental illness; To reduce the impact of mental health problems and mental illness, including the effects of stigma on individuals, families and the community; To promote recovery from mental health problems and mental illness; and To assure the rights of people with mental health problems and mental illness, and to enable them to participate meaningfully in society.

The national context Fourth National Mental Health Plan Launched by Australian Health Ministers in November 2009 Operationalises the revised National Mental Health Policy actions under 5 priority areas: 1.Social Inclusion and Recovery 2.Prevention and Early Intervention 3.Service Access, Coordination and Continuity of Care 4.Quality Improvement and Innovation 5.Accountability – Measuring and reporting progress The National Drug Strategy (in the process of being renewed) and associated strategies

National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing 2007 One in five Australians had experienced a mental illness in the last 12 months –14.4% Anxiety disorders (panic disorders, agoraphobia, social phobias, GAD, OCD, PTSD) –6.2% Affective disorders (depression, dysthymia, bipolar affective disorder) –5.1% Substance use disorders (alcohol and other drugs). 45 % of Australians experience mental disorder at some point in their lifetime. Under-estimate for a number of reasons –Household survey –Common mental disorders –Relatively low response rate.

Scope of our challenge Mental illness One quarter of the total disability burden due to mental illness Third leading cause of overall disease burden after cardiovascular diseases and cancer Almost half the population will experience a mental disorder in their lifetime, 1 in 5 in any 12 month period

The ‘burden’ of mental health disorders on Australian society

Scope of our challenge

The vast majority of mental disorders have onset early in life

Treated prevalence Only around one-third (35% or 3.2 million people) who were assessed as having a 12 ‑ month mental disorder accessed services for mental health problems –41% women with disorders compared with 28% of men –Highest treatment rates were for affective disorders with 45% –Half of those who received services (51.7%) had two or more disorders. –Two-thirds with mental disorder and a suicidal behaviour Of those with 12-month disorders who received services, their needs were only partially or not met –information (28.6%) –medication (9%) –counselling (25.7%) –social intervention (23.6%) –skills training (17.9%)

Why people aren’t receiving services? Most report no need Of those with 12-month disorders who didn’t receive services: –94.4% reported no need for information; –97.9% reported no need for medication; –89.7% reported no need counselling; –94.3% reported no need for social intervention; and –96.4% reported no need for skills training.

Key messages Proportion of the population receiving services has not changed much since 1997 Appears we are providing services differently –greatly increased servicing by psychologists –perhaps more people seeing GP+ Messages seem to have got through for depression, particularly to middle aged –Not doing so well for other disorders, young and men Many people who could benefit from effective treatments report that they don’t need services –need to look at stigma and mental health literacy –as well as disseminating treatment information (effectiveness, availability, cost, access)

Scope of our challenge Alcohol and drugs One fifth of total injury burden in Queensland is due to excessive alcohol consumption 1 in 10 adults drink at levels placing them at risk of long term harm This rises to 1 in 5 in the age group Alcohol related expenditure $15.3 billion nationwide in 2004/05, 13% in healthcare system 1 in 7 Queenslanders used illicit drugs in the past year Again, this rises to 1 in 3 in the year age group

Scope of our challenge Suicide More than 1 in 8 Australian adults contemplate suicide in their lifetime 500 completed suicides in Queensland each year 2 nd leading cause potential years of life lost for males, 4 th for females Estimated economic cost of up to $17.5 billion per annum nationwide

Physical illness and mental illness the facts: Largest data linkage study of its type in Australia: 231,311 people, who were on the mental health register had their records between examined There records were compared with the rest of the population There life expectancy was 12 years shorter than the rest of the population, that is it was the same as Aboriginal people in WA

THEY FOUND THAT SUICIDE WAS NOT THE MAIN CAUSE OF CLIENT MORTALITY, BUT THE FIFTH-HIGHEST CAUSE. Source: Lawrence D, Coghlan R. H health inequalities and the health needs of people with mental illness. NSW Public Health Bulletin 2002; 13(7): 155– 158. (1) Malignant neoplasms (2) Cerebrovascular disease (3) Acute myocardial infarction (4) Other circulatory system (5) Suicide

Physical illness and mental illness the facts: Very high rates of smoking and therefore much higher rates of respiratory disease Higher rates of deficiency anaemias Higher rates of injury particularly being inflicted by others Ischaemic Heart Disease caused twice the number of excess deaths than suicide Yet lower rates of revascularization Lower rates of hospitalization Higher rates of surgical complications

Inpatient Mental Health services So what is happening to our beds?

Inpatient Mental Health Services But… It started a long time ago!

Trends in availability of psychiatric beds in Western Europe Source WHO

Trends in availability of psychiatric beds in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) Source WHO

1.Expenditure Per capita expenditure by states and territories on general adult mental health services (dollars)