New Mental Health Laws And Community Visitors Scheme Welcomed

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5th June 2009, 04:29pm - Views: 1305





Community Health Mental Health Coalition Of South Australia 1 image

Community Health Mental Health Coalition Of South Australia 2 image



1/408 King William Street, Adelaide SA 5000

Email: administration@mhcsa.org.au


Ph: 8212 8873          Fax:  8212 8874





NEW MENTAL HEALTH LAWS AND COMMUNITY VISITORS

‘MOST WELCOME’ SAY MENTAL HEATH COALITION


MEDIA RELEASE


June 5th 2009


The Mental Health Coalition of SA (MHCSA) has warmly welcomed the passage of the

Mental Health Bill 2008 through State Parliament.


MHCSA Executive Director Geoff Harris stated: “This brings us another step closer to

finally seeing a vast improvement to our mental health laws. The proposed new focus on

consumers and carers and the recognition of the importance of community and recovery

in a person’s well being is much needed and long awaited.


“These new laws will bring South Australian mental health into the 21st Century by

bringing significant and positive changes to our social and health policy that reflect

widely-held community expectations.”


Mr Harris was also supportive of the successful Upper House amendment to introduce a

Community Visitor’s Scheme: “All other States and Territories currently have Community

or Official Visitors programs. Community Visitors Schemes strengthen consumer

participation and ensure services are responsive and accountable. 


“The addition of a Community Visitors Scheme will improve human rights in South

Australia and many in the mental health community sector have seen this as a much

needed improvement to the overall Mental Health system. 


“The MHCSA has long advocated for a Community Visitors Scheme and is very pleased

that it has now been included in the legislation by the Upper House, we hope that the

Bill will now be swiftly progressed by the Government into life-changing law,” he

concluded.  

For comment contact MHCSA Executive Director 

Mr Geoff Harris on 0401 099 555



THE MHCSA has long advocated for an Independent or Community Visitor Scheme, most

recently in our current policy document Mental Health – Let’s Make It Work Better (available

at www.mhcsa.org.au). A Mental Health Visitors Scheme was also a key recommendation of

the Governments’ own Review of Mental Health legislation in South Australia. in the Bidmeade

Report.






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