As I begin my journey as Chief Executive Officer of Mind Australia, it feels particularly meaningful to mark World Mental Health Day at a time of significant change for mental health in Australia.
With reform of the NDIS underway, the next National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement overdue and state elections ahead in New South Wales and Victoria, there are important decisions being made about the future of mental health and community support.
These decisions matter because they have a direct impact on people’s everyday lives – their ability to access support, find a home, participate in their communities and pursue the lives they want and deserve.
At Mind, we know that good mental health support starts with listening to people with lived experience, as well as families, carers, communities and our workforce. Their knowledge and expertise must help shape the services and systems we build and deliver.
As a new CEO, I’m looking forward to listening, learning and working alongside our people, partners and communities.
I firmly believe that community-based mental health, psychosocial supports and access to safe and secure housing are essential parts of a mental health system that works with people, not simply for them. They matter because people should be able to live meaningful lives with access to the right support at the right time. They matter because a strong mental health system is one that sees the whole person, rather than defining them by a diagnosis or a period of distress.
There is much to do, but there is also much to be hopeful about too.
Today on World Mental Health Day, I encourage all of us – as community members, families and carers, policymakers and decision-makers – to keep listening, keep challenging what isn’t working, and keep working together to create change that people can feel in their everyday lives.
Happy World Mental Health Day.
Denise Cumming – Mind Australia CEO.