MENTAL HEALTH CONFERENCE DIAGNOSIS:
SA MAKING PROGRESS BUT ‘NOT FIXED YET’
MEDIA RELEASE
November 10th 2009
A critical evaluation of South Australia’s mental health system will be
undertaken at a conference being held in Adelaide later this week. In a first
for South Australia the event will showcase the emerging community non
government mental health sector.
MHCSA Executive Director Geoff Phillips stated: “Mental Health Reform is
making progress but is not fixed yet. We still have a long way to go, but the
answers are not to be found in more hospital beds.
“A recent call by psychiatrists for more hospital beds highlights a lack of
understanding about evidence based recovery oriented mental health services
and effective support.
“With one in five adults likely to personally experience mental health
problems every year (ABS statistics) most mental health solutions are not in
hospitals but in the community.”
The Mental Health Coalition of SA is holding its inaugural conference, "Mental
Health: Not Fixed Yet" at West Lakes Resort Thursday the 12th and Friday the
With a line up of visionary speakers and key decision makers, the conference
will offer insight into the progress which has been made in mental health
reform in South Australia and insight into the road ahead.
Speakers include:
Mary O’Hagan (Former New Zealand Mental Health Commissioner)
Helen Glover (Internationally renowned QLD-based Consumer Consultant)
Derek Wright (Mental Health Reformer & Director Mental Health Operations in SA)
Professor John Mendoza (former CEO of Mental Health Council of Australia)
Jeff Cheverton (CEO NGO Mental Health Peak body - Queensland Alliance)
Rosemary Wanganeen (Director Australian Institute for Loss and Grief)
Details of opportunities for media comment at the conference will be advised.
For further information contact Mr Geoff Phillips MHCSA Executive
Director on 0488 691 000 or geoffp@mhcsa.org.au
NEWS 
