JW: Have you been happy with how the mental health system has stood up this year?

JR: Well yes, and health professionals and all those working in our community services, non-government areas, need to be commended for the work they've done.

There has been a lot of focus, as it probably absolutely has to be, in terms of the physical health of people and that has been worked through and led by Sarah Courtney, the department and the great people across our health system. But, mental health of people is increasingly an ever-present issue irrespective of the pandemic.

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I was pleased that we were able to secure an additional $4 million of investment as part of the initial support package for the pandemic to support organisations around Tasmania. We need to be very mindful of the mental health needs of our community moving forward into recovery as well.

JW: As part of that funding you launched Lifeline Tasmania - is that a service that you will continue?

JR: Lifeline was there, of course, supporting the community in what it normally does, but we set up through Lifeline a Tasmanian Lifeline to support people through specific pandemic concerns across workforce, employment and other areas. My understanding is that it has been a very well utilised service. That funding will continue.

JW: It must be said there were some pretty distressing findings in the CAHMS report released this year.

JR: Yes. But, a very solid report. I wanted a report that covered all the issues good or not so good. I have termed the report a 'warts-and-all report' and when you read that report it is.

There are a lot of areas for improvement in terms of, firstly, creating a statewide system, and that is well and truly underway, but also better support for our adolescents with particularly more complex mental health needs.

Despite the great work of the workforce there are a number of system improvements that can be made in terms of a fully integrated service. Phase one of that has commenced and $4 million is supporting that phase one of implementing those recommendations.

JW: How much crossover is there between yourself and Minister Courtney to make sure the mental health system is working collaboratively with the health system?

JR: Minister Courtney and I would both agree that physical and mental health go hand in hand. When we are talking about ill health prevention we talk about physical wellbeing but we should also be talking about good mental health.

There is crossover but, there is also integration and we are regularly having discussions about the services we provide. I believe having a dedicated Mental Health and Wellbeing Minister is a very strong signal from a government of the very high priority that they are placing on this increasingly important and needed area.

JW: This year concerns have been raised about the level of services for people with eating disorders - most recently by a young woman on the North-West through a petition.

The head of InsideOut Institute has said system wide change is needed because we are years behind the mainland. Are there plans for that here in Tasmania?

JR: Yes there is and I agree with all that is being said in terms of services gaps. I remember as a local MP in about 2007/8 I had a constituent with an eating disorder, who was at that time 11 years of age, and became acutely aware of the need for better services all the way back then.

[I] even developed a pretty comprehensive policy from opposition at that point in time. I learnt a lot about eating disorders at that point in time. The Australian Government is investing and supporting Tasmania with a $10 million investment. That will include a dedicated residential care facility for people with eating disorders based in the South.

But, what will also happen is there will be day programs integrated with the Southern facility in the North and the North-West as part of that statewide response.

JW: Parents have told us that they can't access adequate care for their children, because they are too complex for CAHMS and there are no other clinicians. Is there a plan to attract clinicians who are specialised in this area?

JR: There is a lot of work that needs to be done, and I would suspect always needs to be done and maintained, in terms of workforce development right across the mental health area. We can never take our eye off the ball in that sense.

More broadly, yes, there is workforce development [work being done] and attracting staff to Tasmania is very, very important and we will continue to be active in that space. I think what is also important is not just integration of mental health services within the broader health system but also other areas of government as well.

Our school nurses also play a key role here and part of the reform process with CAHMS will also be around ensuring our people that are employed in the school system are integrated with other mental health services.

JW: You said you agree with all the critiques of the current system. Earlier this year a senior THS employee told us that there were essentially no options for adults with eating disorders to get treatment in Tasmania - do you agree with that assessment?

JR: What we are absolutely committed to is a system for treatment for people with eating disorders irrespective of age.

JW: Is that a yes or a no?

JR: Well if people present with concerns, mental health concerns [or] eating disorder concerns, my expectation is that their needs are met within Tasmania.

JW: How important is it that we continue to educate the wider community about mental health issues?

JR: It will always be increasingly important to do that. If I think back to when I first became aware of mental health and the services, what's on offer and the discussion in the community in my early twenties, some 30 years ago almost, the stigma has reduced a lot when it comes to mental health.

There are more people in the community, more high profile people, that are coming forward and saying they've had concerns with their mental health and being open about that.

It generates community discussion and breaks down those stigma barriers but, reducing stigma will always need to continue. Our workplaces and employers need to have a responsibility for educating their employees about mental health as well.

It is not that hard to ask someone 'are you ok?', or notice you're not yourself or things like that. What I think is also important is that if someone says back to you 'actually no I'm not ok' supporting individuals then to know how to deal with that and listen without judgment.

JW: Is there anything else you would like to add?

JR: We did survey 30,000 school students this year with our wellbeing survey. It was pleasing that despite the year of disruption that the wellbeing of students probably dipped just slightly compared to last year. But, their positive relationships with adults in their lives increased.

The survey highlighted that particularly for young females in grade 8,9 and 10 their wellbeing really dipped. So in grade 7 it might be pretty high then it dips down and creeps up again after grade 10.

That is a real area we need to focus on in supporting our young people in our schools. For males it wasn't as strong but it was still like that.

Listening to students and hearing from them about what they require as young people in terms of the services we deliver is so very, very important.

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