On  January 6, 2020, Wellbeing SA formally became an independent Government Agency with three directorates:

• Mental Health and Wellbeing
• Prevention and Population Health
• Integrated Care Systems

South Australia’s three new, part-time Mental Health Commissioners, Professor Sharon Lawn, Heather Novak and David Kelly now form the SA Mental Health Commission. They started working in early 2020 and will report directly to the Minister.

The Mental Health and Wellbeing Directorate, Wellbeing SA will provide secretariat support for the SA Mental Health Commission and staff who previously worked for the Commission are now working in this directorate.

Ms Amelia Traino is Executive Director of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Directorate.

Image Caption (l-r): SA’s new Mental Health Commissioners David Kelly, Professor Sharon Lawn and Heather Nowak with Wellbeing SA Executive Director Amelia Traino.

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Support for, and awareness of, the 25 percent of South Australians experiencing mental health issues, and their loved ones, is being boosted by the strengthening of the Mental Health Commission. 

Image Caption (l-r): SA’s new Mental Health Commissioners David Kelly, Professor Sharon Lawn and Heather Nowak with Wellbeing SA Executive Director Amelia Traino.

The skills base of the Commission has been broadened with the appointment of three new Commissioners.

Minister for Health and Wellbeing, Stephen Wade, welcomed Professor Sharon Lawn, Heather Nowak and David Kelly to their new Commissioner roles at the important half-way mark of the implementation of the State’s Mental Health Strategic Plan 2017–2022.

“The Commissioners will work in partnership with people with lived experience of mental illness and their families and carers to promote whole-of-government and whole-of-community strategies to support the mental health and wellbeing of the South Australian community,” he said.

Previously, there was only one mental health commissioner, but the Marshall Liberal Government is engaging three part-time Commissioners and has boosted funding by 25% to enable the increase. 

Minister Wade thanked former Commissioner Chris Burns CSC for his work in prioritising and incorporating the voices of South Australians as he led the development of the Strategic Plan as well as in work undertaken by the Commission. Mr Burns has taken up the role of the Chief Executive of the Hutt Street Centre.

Last month, the Marshall Government released a new mental health services plan, which builds on the extensive consultation undertaken in the development of the SA Mental Health Strategic Plan 2017–2022, and provides a foundation for the commissioning and delivery of high quality mental health care for South Australians.

“The new Commissioners will continue this work in implementing both the Strategic Plan and the recently released Mental Health Services Plan. To do this, they will continue to reach out to South Australians again,” Minister Wade said. 

The State Liberal Government, in collaboration with the Morrison Federal Government, has invested about $100 million towards new initiatives and mental health services for South Australia.

There are 690,000 interactions with our mental health services each year, with 20,700 emergency department presentations and 9,200 acute admissions to hospital beds.

BACKGROUND 

Professor Sharon Lawn has been involved in the mental health sector for 34 years in diverse roles ranging from clinician working with veterans, mothers and babies, the community and aged care to researcher and educator.

Sharon is currently Professor and Director with the School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, Flinders Human Behaviour and Health Research Unit at Flinders University.

Sharon has lived experience of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) as well as being a carer which she says entrenches her commitment to improving mental health care, improving mental health systems and services and reducing stigma and discrimination.

Heather Nowak is a TAFE Lecturer in Certificate IV Mental Health Peer Work and an advocate for people living with mental ill-health on a state and national level.

Heather is an Applied Suicide Intervention Skills trainer and Assessor and a member of the National Mental Health Commission Peer Workforce Development Guidelines Steering Committee and past member of the SA Mental Health Services Plan Steering Committee and the SA Mental Health Commission Community Advisory Committee.

She also brings her lived experience to the role and a determination to ensure people living with mental ill-health, their carers and families have the best opportunity to live a life that is full and meaningful.

David Kelly is a project lead who delivers coaching and training for a trauma-informed wellbeing program for people who have disengaged from education, people who are homeless, refugees and new arrivals and worked with Baptist Care on its new Health and Wellbeing Centre for people who are homeless. David was formerly senior manager with the South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Wellbeing and Resilience Centre.

As Deputy Chief Executive Officer with The Australian Centre for Social Innovation (TACSI) for two years, he led a range of projects in the ageing, disability and caring sectors and is a strong advocate for the co-design of services for mental health and wellbeing.

Media contact: 
Ken McGregor
0466 935 184

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Chris Burns, the current Mental Health Commissioner for South Australia, has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Hutt St Centre.

As Commissioner, Mr Burns was responsible for the design and production of the State’s first mental health strategic plan and has been instrumental in strengthening the mental health and wellbeing of South Australians.

Prior to that he was the CEO of the Defence Teaming Centre – a member organisation connecting and supporting Australian industry to increase competitiveness in local and global defence markets. 

Chair of the Hutt St Centre Board, Tim O’Callaghan, said Mr Burns’ experience in mental health along with his extensive business acumen was a coup for the not-for-profit.

“Chris is a proven, accomplished and highly experienced CEO with significant experience in mental health and wellbeing – two factors which will play a significant role in his work at Hutt St Centre” Mr O’Callaghan said.

“Chris’ values coupled with his understanding of advocacy make him particularly well suited to lead the Hutt St Centre into the future.”

Appointed by the Hutt St Centre Board, Mr Burns takes over from long-serving CEO Ian Cox, who left the Centre after 25 years to run a new State government office tackling homelessness.

Mr Burns said he felt privileged to lead the organisation at a time when tackling homelessness was a top priority for both South Australia and the nation.

“Homelessness is an issue of key concern for state and federal governments and the Hutt St Centre, like other similar organisations around the country, has an important role to play in developing and implementing the programs and policies required to address it,” Mr Burns said.

“Since 1954, the Hutt St Centre has been a work of the Daughters of Charity and has been a place of hope and opportunity – where people experiencing homelessness can and have achieved new beginnings.

“I’m looking forward to continuing this vital work while working towards our greater goal of ending homelessness for good.”

Mr Burns had an extensive military career with the Australian Army which included being awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross. He is the President of Legacy SA and Broken Hill and is actively involved with supporting veterans.   

He is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management (FAIM).

The Hutt St Centre serves 40,000 meals each year and helps more than 200 people experiencing homelessness each day, through case management and support, education and employment services, aged care and pastoral care.

Mr Burns will assume the role of CEO of the Hutt St Centre early in the new year at the conclusion of his appointment as the SA Mental Health Commissioner.

Media contact: 
Samantha Firth
Hughes PR
0408 715 585
[email protected]

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AS FEATURED IN THE PORT LINCOLN TIMES – BY OLIVIA BARNES

SOUTH Australian Mental Health Commissioner Chris Burns was impressed by the strength of Eyre Peninsula communities when he visited the region last week.

Mr Burns visited Port Lincoln, Cummins and Ceduna to meet with local service providers and members of the community.

He said Eyre Peninsula people had been reaching out to discuss their concerns about mental health in the region.

“We always say we have to listen to lived experience and that’s what we wanted to do,” Mr Burns said.

Mr Burns said he was impressed by what the Eyre Peninsula community was doing in the absence of certain services.

He said youth suicide was among the local issues discussed as well as access to clinical support services and inconsistent grant funding models.

Sitting in the city you can never quite appreciate how tight the community is over there…
SA Mental Health Commissioner Chris Burns

Mr Burns said while there were grants available many of them would only support a program for the first year or two.

He said non-government organisations had told him that that system made it difficult to start new programs as they needed long term funding to provide consistency for the community.

“You’ve got people who are investing a lot of themselves and after the first 12 or 24 months are having to spend a lot of time reapplying for grants to keep programs running,” Mr Burns said.

Mr Burns said he was impressed by how Eyre Peninsula communities were coming together to find solutions. “Sitting in the city you can never quite appreciate how tight the community is over there (Eyre Peninsula), they’re the ones who know how to the solve problems. “What we’re doing is taking the messages back, being a voice for them where they need it,” he said.

Mr Burns said similar issues arose at each of his meetings but the underlying message was one of strength. He said local people were the experts who “know how to crack on and do the job”. “They’re not sitting back and complaining, they’re doing something about it,” Mr Burns said.

“We couldn’t promise anything but we’ve got a lot to pass on.”

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Country people are the ultimate experts when it comes to strengthening the mental health and wellbeing of their local community and what’s needed in their communities, says SA Mental Health Commissioner Chris Burns.

“Time and again I have seen how, in the face of limited services, country people come together as a community and support each other,” he said.

“They find local solutions which work for them and often these solutions are outside the traditional clinical models of care.”

Commissioner Burns and his team are visiting Port Lincoln, Ceduna and Cummins this week to listen to the views of locals including people with lived experience of mental health issues, and encourage the sharing of programs and ideas that are working well in rural and regional areas.

Representatives from 13 local organisations will meet the Commissioner and his team, including Centacare, Country and Outback Health; Port Lincoln Hospital; Lincoln Alive! Suicide Prevention Network; Ceduna Koonibba Aboriginal Health Service and Port Lincoln Aboriginal Health Service.

The Commissioner was invited to the Eyre Peninsula by Smoky Bay resident Hans von Ohle, Mentally Fit EP and West Coast Youth and Community Support (WCYCS).

Mr von Ohle has expressed concern about recent suicides in the region and the availability of counselling services.

Commissioner Burns said that, while the Commission is not in charge of clinical services, its great strength is bringing people, communities and organisations of all types together to look at shared solutions to the complexities faced by people and regions.

“Together, we can see what local solutions are working, what helps to break down stigma, provides support and builds local connections – rather than waiting for the crisis to happen,” he said.

“During the visit, we will facilitate communities connecting with each other and working out how they can develop their own model for support and tailored programs, and share the experiences of communities which have done this successfully, including Mentally Fit EP.

“Sometimes, the most difficult challenge facing communities is knowing where to start but I sincerely believe that inherent in every community is the knowledge to solve their own problems. They are the ultimate experts, rather than having solutions bestowed on them.”

During the visit this Wednesday and Thursday (Oct 30–31), Commissioner Burns and his team will meet:

• Community members and people with lived experience of mental health issues
• Mentally Fit EP, Port Lincoln
• Cummins community members
• Port Lincoln Hospital
• West Coast Youth and Community Support (WCYCS), Port Lincoln,
• Country PHN Regional Manager
• Lincoln Alive Suicide Prevention Network, Port Lincoln
• Country and Outback Health (COBH)
• Centacare, Port Lincoln and Ceduna
• Port Lincoln Aboriginal Health Service (PLAHS)
• Smoky Bay resident Hans van Ohle and the Far West Suicide Prevention Network
• Ceduna Koonibba Aboriginal Health Service
• Tullawon Health Service – Yalata and Oak Valley and the
• Aboriginal Drug & Alcohol Service, Ceduna

For more information, contact SAMHC Communications Adviser Joan Atkinson on 0422 916 496.

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As featured on the Australian & New Zealand Mental Health Association website:
https://anzmh.asn.au/2019/10/02/community-knowledge-solve-problems/

In all our undertakings, the SA Mental Health Commission listens to and values the perspectives of South Australians with lived experience of mental health challenges.

As we led the development of the State’s first mental health strategic plan, South Australians living in rural and remote areas generously shared with us their views, stories and concerns. This gave us a unique insight of the issues and inequities they face due to the tyrannies distance and isolation.

Time and again we experienced examples of how, in the face of limited services, country people came together as a community and supported each other. They found local solutions which worked for them – solutions which were outside the traditional clinical models of care.

Mentally Fit EP brought their Eyre Peninsula community together when it was rocked by suicides and put remarkable safety nets in place. Mount Gambier library builds social connectedness in such a vibrant way that young mums, kids and older people regularly visit and are having a great time.

These communities remind us that success in building good mental health and wellbeing depends upon addressing the root causes rather than waiting for the crisis to happen.

Mental health and wellbeing is not solely a clinical issue. Mental ill-health begins well before someone reaches a medical service or hospital.

Rural and remote communities are so powerful with their intimate knowledge of their communities and their capacity to provide early support and build social connectedness, both important protective factors in countering mental health challenges.

Good mental health and wellbeing as well as health care should not be dependent on your postcode, how much you earn and how determined you are to get access to services.

Advice, supports and services must be matched to a community’s needs to stop mental distress becoming so severe, they seek help in emergency departments.

And who knows this better than a local?

SA Mental Health Commissioner Chris Burns CSC is a keynote speaker at the 2019 Australian Rural & Remote Mental Health Symposium.

Hear him present on suicide and self-harm prevention with his presentation Let’s Not Wait for the ‘Mind Attack’ – register today.

Click here for more information.

As featured on the Australian & New Zealand Mental Health Association website:
https://anzmh.asn.au/2019/10/02/community-knowledge-solve-problems/

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The shock death of much-loved football star Danny Frawley has shaken the AFL world, stunned the wider community, and put a stark spotlight on mental health. Health Reporter BRAD CROUCH sat down with South Australian Mental Health Commissioner Chris Burns and three of his community advisers – Brooke Fogden, Adan Richards and Andris Banders – to discuss warning signs and how to help.

Download & Read Article

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The Advertiser recently featured my opinion piece comparing attitudes toward mental health and wellbeing with the way we practised cardiology in the 1950s.

I would like to share this with you and welcome your feedback:

“In psychiatry and psychology it is like we are practising 1950s cardiology, where you wait for a heart attack and once it happens you know what to do,” Harvard Medical School Professor Ronald C. Kessler says.

So why do we insist on waiting for the ‘mind attack’ when it comes to mental health and wellbeing? This is no more evident in South Australia where we continue to myopically look at mental health and wellbeing from an illness perspective.

Public commentary focuses on the time people with mental distress spend in Emergency Departments, the number of acute mental health care beds we have and the need for health bureaucrats to fix all mental health problems. In effect, we have an entrenched approach of looking at mental health and wellbeing from an ‘ambulance at the bottom of the cliff’ perspective.

The discrimination and stigma surrounding people experiencing mental ill-health that pervades society is undeniable. While awareness is growing and we are able to discuss more openly our experiences of mental ill-health, this awareness is not translating into action.

Mental ill-health is preventable and is not just about managing symptoms or distress. It is about building resilient, compassionate and connected communities where South Australians have access to the fundamentals of being well; a stable and safe roof over their heads, a meal on the table, supportive family, friends and community around them; something meaningful to do that builds a sense of purpose, and financial means. These are fundamental to good mental health and wellbeing.

New Zealand is leading the way internationally by establishing an independent Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission which, in part, will oversee and evaluate the implementation of the government’s ‘Wellbeing Budget’. The NZ Government is committed to embedding wellbeing into the heart of the Government’s policy-making. This will include changes to the way agencies plan, report and measure their progress while simultaneously devoting significant resources to three key areas: mental illness, child poverty and family violence.

Relying on clinicians, beds and medication to address the state’s mental health issues – is merely waiting for the ‘mind attack’ to occur.
All levels and agencies of government must be supported and educated to work with the community to step-up and prevent mental distress and strengthen the mental health and wellbeing of all South Australians.

It could not be simpler: the mental health and wellbeing of every member of the community is the responsibility of all South Australians.

Let’s focus on building a fence at the top of the cliff together and not waiting for the ‘mind attack’ to occur. By doing this we will make SA a great state of mind.

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South Australian sports’ players, coaches, parents and clubs will unite to tackle mental health issues in sport head-on at a special Mental Wellbeing in Sport forum at Morphettville Racecourse on Friday,
June 28.

The SA Mental Health Commission and Sport SA are teaming up to present the free event in response to urgent calls from sporting organisations for help to recognise and respond to early warning signs of mental health problems and find ways to build their sporting communities’ mental wellbeing.

South Australia has over 4000 sporting clubs with 58% (over 900,000) of the state’s population participating in sport supported by over 260,000 volunteers.

South Australian sporting communities have identified anxiety, depression, suicide and managing injury and performance among their top mental health concerns during a recent survey by the SA Mental Health Commission.

SA Mental Health Commissioner Chris Burns says clubs are “crying out” for support and education on mental health for players of all ages and levels and to build the resilience of club members and participants.

“We know that being physically active and connecting with a community is critical to maintaining and improving our mental health and wellbeing but, like society as a whole, the sporting community is not immune from the impacts of mental health issues,” he said.

“Statistics show that 45% of Australians will experience a diagnosable mental illness in their lifetime, so it’s not surprising that sporting clubs have identified serious concerns about mental health issues and the urgent need for information, support and training.”

Commissioner Burns said the event, which will be compered by the ABC breakfast presenter Ali Clarke, would facilitate better mental health awareness and encourage open and honest conversations around mental health.

Sport SA Chief Executive Officer Leah Cassidy said sporting communities are in crisis and often under pressure in many areas – from maintaining the mental wellbeing of participants to managing compliance, funding issues and keeping volunteers.

“Sport can play a pivotal role in supporting the positive mental health of participants and ensuring players, members and parents feel safe, connected and supported,” Ms Cassidy said.

“This event is an important opportunity to listen and learn from each other and provide the next steps for further support.”

Participants and invited guests at the event will explore issues, discuss what can make a difference to mental wellbeing and co-design resources that will help meet the needs identified by sporting communities.

Go to samentalhealthcommission.com.au for the link to register for the forum – or register direct at: www.eventbrite.com.au/e/mental-wellbeing-in-sport-registration-62243048634

For more information, contact SAMHC Communications Adviser Joan Atkinson on 0422 916 496.

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246 South Australian ‘dads-to-be’ have joined SMS4dadsSA, a free ‘dad-friendly’ information service by text message, run for the first time in South Australia as a pilot research project by the SA Mental Health Commission.

During the development of the South Australian Mental Health Strategic Plan 2017-2022, the SA Mental Health Commission heard that parenthood means a great deal to South Australian men, they are excited to be fathers and they are keen to do a good job. We also heard that there is less information about being a father than there is for a mother, and that men communicate differently to women.

“We know that approximately one in 20 men experience anxiety and depression during their partner’s pregnancy, and approximately one in 10 men following the birth of their baby,” said SA Mental Health Commissioner Chris Burns.

Commissioner Burns said that reports from dads who are completing the program show the tips are hitting the mark and offering valuable support as they transition to parenthood, because the messages are timed to manage developmental milestones, including sleeping, playtimes, feeding – and even baby poo!*

The SMS4dadsSA project, run in partnership with the University of Newcastle, helps dads learn about their baby, support their partner and look after their own mental and physical health.  The SMS messages begin from 20 weeks’ gestation to when the baby is six months’ old at the rate of three texts a week.

As well as links to online resources, dads receive a mood checker every three weeks to see how they are travelling. If they are feeling overwhelmed, telephone support is available or, if they are in severe stress, they can be referred to acute services.

“The value of the project is evident from the insightful feedback from new dads and the retention rate in the SMS4dadsSA project, which is higher than similar projects interstate,” said Commissioner Burns.

“And thankfully the project has benefitted six dads with additional advice and assistance from PANDA (Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia) because they were finding the transition to parenthood difficult and challenging.”

At a Glance – SMS4dadsSA

• The average age of dads is 33;
• 81 per cent of the 246 participants were expecting their first child;
• Over 200 babies have been born so far
• To date, six dads have benefitted from additional advice and assistance from PANDA (Perinantal Anxiety & Depression Australia) as a result of the difficult and challenging transition to parenthood.
• Nine in ten dads stayed in the program, a rate higher than similar projects interstate. For those dads who checked out earlier, the average length of involvement is 10.5 weeks.

As part of the research component of the pilot project, dads were asked for their feedback on the messages, to fine-tune and improve the messages for the next generation of fathers.

Some of the feedback:

• “The texts come along at the right time and say the right thing…7 out of 10 times, the text is spot on with what’s happening with our baby and with me.”
• “It’s like a mate checking in, putting a hand on my shoulder and asking if I’m OK. I don’t feel so alone.”
• “The crying is really causing stress at home. This message has reassured me we are not alone.”
• “The dad texts seem to arrive at my lowest point. I appreciate the constant reminder that I am just human and need to take a deep breathe every now and then. The current growth leap is killing me. I fell asleep at work today and my eyes constantly burn.”
• “I think she’s (my partner) impressed or she’s really happy that I jumped into it and that I’m actually interested in the messages… Yeah. Because I guess it shows like, you know, I care about the baby and I care about what’s happening.”

The research component of the pilot project continues to run until 30 June 2019. The evaluation of the pilot project and research findings will be shared widely by the SA Mental Health Commission in the second half of 2019, so that we can continue to best support men as they make this transition to fatherhood.

*Curious about that baby poo link – have a look if you dare: https://www.babycenter.com/baby-poop-photos

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