More than 15,000 Tasmanians currently experience living with a severe mental illness, the Mental Health Council of Tasmania says.
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In Hobart on February 16, the council launched a new year-long campaign called Moving Toward a Mentally Healthy Tasmania.
It aimed to give the council’s response to the commitments made by both major parties in the lead up to the state election, and will see the council work alongside the mental health sector to ensure Tasmanians know what a good mental health system should look like.
After reviewing the policy announcements from both parties, the council aimed to focus the campaign on creating community-based, co-delivery options for Tasmanians, including the restarted target to reduce suicide rates by 20 per cent by the year 2022.
Council chief executive Connie Digolis launched the campaign.
“We encourage our major parties to hold to their commitments to improve the mental health of Tasmanians,” she said.
“This isn’t about demanding more than we deserve, this is about demanding what is right and what we have a right to expect.
“We deserve a mental health system that ensures all Tasmanians are mentally healthy [and] resilient.
“We want to see Tasmanians empowered with an understanding of what they can expect a good mental health system to look like, and recognise how it can meet their or their loved one’s needs,” Ms Digolis said.
The launch was attended by mental health organisations such as Lifeline, Colony 47, Relationships Tasmania, Mental Health Carers and Youth Network of Tasmania.
Fresh Start Services staff member Kelly Saward shared her experience.
“I believe this once lost soul has found purpose and has found meaning, and I believe I owe this to all the services that helped me at the right time, and the right place,” she said.
To pledge support and join the movement, head online to www.mhct.org/pledge.
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, contact Lifeline on 13 14 11 or head online to www.lifeline.org.au.
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