New Victim Support Service cornerstone of mental health reforms

Victims of violent offences committed by people with mental illness will have access to better support and information through a new Queensland Victim Support Service.

Health Minister Stephen Robertson said today Queensland Health is investing more than $900,000 this year to establish the new statewide service which will commence in early 2008.

“The Victim Support Service will help victims and their families to better understand and negotiate the forensic mental health system,” he said.

“It will provide counselling services and help victims access their entitlements.

“It will also provide practical assistance to victims or family members making submissions or applications to the Mental Health Court and the Mental Health Review Tribunal.

“Importantly, the service will maintain a register of information about classified and forensic mental health patients for disclosure to victims and their families.”

Mr Robertson said the Victim Support Service is a key part of the State Government’s response to the 2006 independent review of the Mental Health Act 2000 by Mr Brendan Butler.

“The State Government is committed to implementing all 106 of Mr Butler’s recommendations.

“We’ve already enshrined greater recognition of victims’ rights in our mental health laws; including their right to have a say before any decisions are made about persons subject to mental health orders.

“Today, I’m tabling in Parliament the Government’s formal response to Mr Butler’s final report and its recommendations.

“I’m also introducing legislative amendments dealing with the final 29 recommendations to further reform and improve the forensic mental health system in Queensland.”

Mr Robertson said until now, the support available to victims of offences committed by people with mental illness has been limited.

“It’s widely recognised that access to timely information and support is critical to a victim’s wellbeing and recovery.

“The Bill I’m introducing today plans to amend the Mental Health Act 2000 to allow for victims and their families to be given certain information about persons under mental health forensic orders.”

Information that may be provided to victims under an information order would include such matters as:

• the fact that the patient is a classified or forensic patient and is detained in an authorised mental health service;
• the fact that limited community treatment has been approved for the patient, and any conditions of the treatment relevant to the safety of the victim;
• the fact that the patient is absent without approval where the absence is relevant to the victim; and
• If the patient is moved from one authorised mental health service to another.

To safeguard the rights and needs of the patient, under no circumstances will information about the patient’s mental illness or treatment plan be publicly disclosed.

Mr Robertson said the Queensland Government is investing $53.5
million over four years to implement all 106 of Mr Butler’s recommendations.

In addition, Queensland Health will spend $28.6 million on risk management strategies over the next four years.

“This includes the employment of 35 additional staff to boost mental health services capacity to assess and treat forensic patients.

“In addition, the Queensland Centre for Mental Health Learning will be engaged to develop and deliver an ongoing risk management training program for specialist and mainstream mental health clinicians.

“A system to monitor and audit compliance with the Mental Health Act 2000 and related policies in mental health services will be established.

“Queensland Health will also work to enhance community understanding of the forensic mental health system, committing an additional $800,000 over the next four years for information resources for the community and indigenous groups,” he said.

MEDIA: PAUL LYNCH 3234 1190 or 0417 728 676