MEDIA RELEASE

5 October 2008

Mental Health Week officially launched by Health Minister

Health Minister Stephen Robertson and a group of elite athletes “rowed-off” in Brisbane today to mark the start of Mental Health Week.

The launch saw Olympian Libby Trickett, Queensland Roar’s Ben Griffin, Queensland Reds star Quade Cooper, iron-woman Kirsty Munroe and swimming great Sam Riley join Mr Robertson in a rowing machine race at Roma Street Parklands.

“Mental health is an increasingly important issue, with one in five Queenslanders likely to experience a serious mental health issue at some point in their life,” Mr Robertson said.

“The theme for Mental Health Week 2008 is ‘Be Mind Wise’,” he said. “This is about encouraging people to look after themselves mentally and emotionally, as well as physically.

“There’s a strong relationship between mental and physical health, so it’s vital that people look after their minds as well as their bodies.”

Mr Robertson said the Bligh Government was committed to a comprehensive mental health strategy to improve the mental health and wellbeing of Queenslanders.

“The Queensland Plan for Mental Health 2007-2017 outlines our priorities for the reform and development of mental health care over the next ten years,” he said.

“One year into the plan, record increases in funding and significant improvements in services have been achieved, and this will continue over the life of the plan.

“In 2007-08 we provided a record funding increase of $528.8 million over four years for implementation of the first phase of the plan, followed by a further increase of $88.6 million over four years on 2008-09.

“This cash injection follows an earlier increase of $366.2 million in 2006-07, as part of Queensland’s commitment to the COAG National Action Plan on Mental Health.

“It brings our total new investment to in mental health to $983.6 million over 6 years – the biggest ever funding increase in Queensland history.”

Mr Robertson said over 300 additional doctors, nurses and allied health staff had been recruited since 2007 to provide community-based mental health services.

“We’ve also established an extra 35 clinical positions to implement the recommendations of from the 2006 review of the Mental Health Act,” he said.

“In 2008-09, we aim to establish 120 more positions in community mental health and statewide specialist services.

“The Government is also funding more mental health beds, and by 2011 we expect 270 mental health beds will be redeveloped, upgraded or refurbished.”

Mr Robertson said the planning and design of four new Community Care Units on Brisbane’s Southside and Darling Downs-West Moreton District was advancing, with construction expected to start in 2009.

“The 2007-08 State Budget also included almost $100 million to increase disability support services and accommodation in the community for people with mental illness,” he said.

“This comprehensive plan to improve mental health services is part of the Bligh Government’s Toward Q2 vision of making Queenslanders Australia’s healthiest people by 2020.”

MEDIA: Catherine Goldie 0417 728 676