Thursday, 5 March 2020

Ministers statements: mental health reform

Mr FOLEY (Albert Park—Minister for Mental Health, Minister for Equality, Minister for Creative Industries) (11:18): I rise to update the house on the action this government is taking not just around the much-needed reform of Victoria’s mental health system but around increasing the leadership we are taking on reforming Australia’s mental health system. It is certainly the case that when it comes to the crisis of our mental health system across the nation one of the many areas of focus that Victoria’s royal commission into our mental health system has shone a light on is the link between family violence and its impact on women’s mental health.

Material made available to the royal commission by the Women’s Mental Health Alliance points to—and this is indeed material backed up by the Department of Health and Human Services submissions—the higher rates of anxiety, depression and affective disorders that are endured by women, including the higher rates of eating disorders. Twice the rate of post-traumatic stress conditions are suffered by women and, in some circumstances, there are higher rates of both self-harm and suicidal behaviour. That is reflected particularly in survivors of family violence who are women, with 70 per cent of those women having treatable mental health conditions and up to 35 per cent of family violence survivors having attempted suicide or self-harm.

But beyond these, in the stories of the damaged lives, the families torn apart and the communities and lives broken lies the real tragedy. That is why this government is taking real action in implementing all of the recommendations from the royal commission’s interim report and, as was our election commitment, has promised that we will implement all of those recommendations of the final royal commission report. I am pleased that this issue has been put on the agenda for the upcoming COAG. I am pleased that the Prime Minister is partnering with Victoria in this important area. (Time expired)