Natasha David
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Australian 2016 Federal Election: Mental Health

30/6/2016

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UPDATE: SANE Australia has just released a very thorough overview of the policies of both parties here.

I happened to catch Triple J's Hack special Election show last night featuring the Mental Health promises of the major parties. 

In the lead up to the 2016 Australian Federal Election vote, there are many promises being made. However, mental health is an incredibly powerful and important issue that the major parties are only just starting to realise, evidenced by both throwing support and money into national programs for national mental health initiatives. This includes a more coordinated national suicide prevention program.

However, as Hack investigated last night, there are some differences between the two parties' approaches.

Mental health is too important to NOT educate yourself on what the major parties are promising.  I urge you to set aside your political leanings and really listen and understand what is on the table for mental health.

Here are the main points covered in the show last night - for more detail here is the link to the full episode.

The Coalition promises to:
  • start 12 suicide prevention sites around Australia
  • fund 10 more Headspace centres
  • spend $12 million on research + $2.5 million on a crisis text service for Lifeline

Labor aims to:
  • halve the suicide toll within 10 years (but no details on how yet)
  • start 12 regional suicide pilot projects - including one in the Kimberley where there are "epidemic levels of suicide"
  • allocated $9 million to research
  • start the first data-set of suicide deaths across the country

The Greens will:
  • spend $1 billion on mental health over 4 years
  • allocate $280 million on rural mental health
  • $40 million on anti-stigma campaigns for suicide prevention

For all that information set to groovy mood music, see the video posted to Triple J's website (Source: Triple J Hack program, 28 June 2016)

Love Natasha x
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    Author

    Welcome to my book website, Marrying Bipolar. As you made it to the blog, you may be interested in learning a little more about me. I was born and bred in Sydney since 1973 to a very tight knit and loving family. We all have our issues, though, and my life's ambition was to become the best person I could be through education, hard yakka (that's work for non-Australians reading this!) and trying to learn as much about myself and others as possible.

    My philosophy on life and love is pretty simple: adhere to the principles of integrity throughout everything I do. This means being as authentic in public as I am in private. 

    I have been a blogger since early 2005, when blogging was still a very new concept. I explored blogging as a way of making sense of what was a pretty chaotic time in my life. Most of my blogs from that time and in the years ensuing have been deleted (as they were pretty raw). 2005 was the year I finally worked up the courage to end a marriage that had been sinking for some time, and taking my mental health with it.

    Unfortunately the end of our marriage culminated in my husband committing suicide. You can read all about the events of our relationship, our marriage and the lead-up to his decision by reading my book, so I won't go into it more here. Suffice to say that I am still writing and journalling about my journey back to mental wellness.

    I have become an advocate for mental health and suicide awareness in Australia, and my goal is to one day ensure that everyone treats mental illness as seriously as they would any other physical disease, by breaking down the stigma that surrounds those who suffer from it, as well as those who care for loved ones struggling with their illnesses and dark thoughts.

    If you want to read more about me you can view my profile page.

    If you want to learn more about my book Marrying Bipolar you can go to the "About the book" page.

    If you are looking to purchase a copy of Marrying Bipolar you can visit the store. 

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  • Home
  • About Natasha
  • Media
    • Media Releases
  • Marrying Bipolar
  • Buy the Book
  • Testimonials
  • Events
    • Symposium for Health, The Dandenongs
    • Book Launch, Sydney
    • Symphony of Health, Port Stephens
  • Blog