What South Australian's Told Us
What SA Told Us
What We Did
More than 2270 South Australians generously shared their stories and ideas on mental health and wellbeing. Their views are the essence of this plan.
The Plan is built on the powerful feedback, stories, views and concerns expressed by over 2200 South Australians of all ages from across our State.
You told us what is working well, not working and future possibilities for mental health and wellbeing.
You also told us that good mental health is about having what you need to live a meaningful life, being able to meet your needs and to be able to navigate adversity.
And that the stigma and discrimination you experience because of their mental illness and needs to change. People who are experiencing mental health issues should be able to access the help they need, when they need it and not be held back by the fear of people judging them.
You told us that good mental health and wellbeing lies beyond our hospital sector. Instead of focusing solely on acute care, we need to act early on the signs and symptoms of poor mental health before people reach a crisis point.
We identified 7 key themes from all these conversations and submissions and went back out to South Australians – 570 people generously gave us feedback on these themes.
October 2016 – July 2017
Informal community and stakeholder consultations
Since October 2016, more than 2200 South Australians from across the State have generously shared their views, stories and concerns by participating in 176 conversations and consultations, sending in submissions and completing over 950 surveys.
September – December 2016
- Community members & people with lived experience, their families and carers
- Northern Adelaide Local Health Network
- Office of the Chief Psychiatrist Lived Experience Reference Group
- Ramsay Health
- Headspace Consumer Advisory Group
- Aboriginal Mental Health Reference Group
- Marion Consumer Carer Advisory Group
- Carer Wellness Centre
- Drug and Alcohol Services South Australia (DASSA)
- People with lived experience
- Lydia, Dennett, Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officer, SA Health
- Women’s & Children’s Hospital Chaplaincy
- Dairy SA
March 2017
- Outer South Consumer Carers Advisory Group
- Pride of the South, Christies Beach
- Specialists in supporting veterans and their wives/partners
April 2017
- Older People’s Mental Health Service
- CREATE Hindmarsh
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) peak carer group
- Centacare
- Women’s & Children’s Hospital carers
- Bits & Pieces (GSD)
- University of Adelaide
- GP clinics
- Resilient Youth
- Dr Ken Hooper & and Youth Mental Health Service Team Southern Adelaide Local Health Network
- Stirling GP Practice
- Wyatt Trust
- Office of the Chief Psychiatrist Lived Experience Reference Group
- Department for Education and Child Development (DECD)
- Adelaide Primary Health Network
- International students
May 2017
Formal Community Conversations begin across South Australia’s metropolitan and country areas.
South Australians also share their views at online forums, roundtables, surveys and submissions, through artwork and poetry, pop-up stalls, listening posts and in DIY community conversations and during one-on-one conversations.
1 May 2017
- Older People’s Mental Health Service
- Southern Adelaide Local Health Network staff
2 May 2017
- Central Adelaide Local Health Network
- The South Australian Council of Social Service (SACOSS)
- Drug and Alcohol Services South Australia (DASSA) Stepney
- MIFSA (Skylight)
- CREATE Hindmarsh
- Meetings with Department of Child Protection executive/staff
3 May 2017
- Resilient Youth, Adelaide
- Pride of the South
4 May 2017
- Australian Association of Social Workers SA, Hindmarsh
- Country Primary Health Network (PHN)
5 May 2017
- Australian Science & Maths School
- Alcohol Drug Foundation – Good Sports Program
8 May 2017
- Council and community leaders, Port Lincoln
- Community conversation, Port Lincoln
- West Coast Youth Service, Port Lincoln
9 May 2017
- Headspace, Whyalla
- Pika Wiya Health Service, Port Augusta
- Women’s and Children’s Health Network Youth Advisory Group
- South Australian Salaried Medical Officers Association (SASMOA)
10 May 2017
- Wilderness School
- Office of the Chief Psychiatrist Lived Experience Reference Group
- Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service executives
11 May 2017
- The South Australian Council of Social Service (SACOSS)/Mental Health Coalition of South Australia (MHCSA)
- Ashton House
- Sound Minds, Wayville (Hearing Voices Group)
- Safework SA
- Public Health
- SA Health
- Department for Education and Child Development (DECD)
- CAFHS
Forum: The South Australian Council of Social Service (SACOSS)/Mental Health Coalition of South Australia (MHCSA) sector briefing on the SA Mental Health Strategic Plan.
12 May 2017
- Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)
13 May 2017
- Poets & other members of SA community
15 May 2017
- Department for Correctional Services
- Black Dog Institute
- CREATE Foundation
- Poets and other members of SA Community
- Mount Gambier City Council
- Standby Services Mount Gambier
- NGO conversation, Mount Gambier
- Community Conversation, Mount Gambier
16 May 2017
- Department for Education and Child Development (DECD) conversation Mount Gambier
- Conversation with clinicians, Mount Gambier Hospital
17 May 2017
- Riverland community and stakeholder conversations
- Veterans and First Responders
- South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI)
- Health Consumers Alliance of South Australia (HCA)
- Southern Mental Health Managers, Noarlunga
- Youth/Gamers group, Parafield Gardens High School
- FTM (transgender group)
- Australian Medical Association
18 May 2017
- St John’s Youth Service
- Department for Education and Child Development (DECD)
- Australian Medical Association
- Royal Australian & New Zealand College of Psychiatrists
19 May 2017
- Mission Australia
- Pharmacy SA
- Sound Minds in the South (Hearing Voices group)
20 May 2017
- Pride of the South
- Positive Education Conference – teachers
22 May 2017
- St John’s Youth Service
- Australian Psychology Association
- Pharmacy Guild of SA
- Squid Support Group (Uniting Care Wesley Port Adelaide)
- Born on Monday Choir & Port Adelaide Community members
23 May 2017
- Kadina Community Mental Health Team
- “The Station” Community Mental Health Centre, Wallaroo
- Offenders Aid and Rehabilitation Services of South Australia (OARS)
- Flourish, Port Adelaide
- St Peter’s Lutheran School, Blackwood
- Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) SA Branch
24 May 2017
- Flinders University Student Union
- Flinders University Student Counsellors and Disability Advisors
- GP Practices
- Helen Mayo House
- Headspace Noarlunga
- Trevor Parry Community Rehabilitation Centre, Noarlunga
25 May 2017
- MIND SA Carers &Staff
- Non-Government Organisation (NGO) Sector Forum
- Rural & Remote Consumer Carer Forum
- Artistic Blacksmiths’ Association, Adelaide
- City of Port Adelaide Enfield Council community volunteers
26 May 2017
- TAFE Certificate Peer Work Students
- Ruby’s Reunification Program, Edwardstown
- Professor Tarun Bastiampillai, Director Mental Health Strategy
- Gender Diversity Alliance South Australia (GENDASA)
29 May 2017
- Victor Harbor community
- Mental Health Non-Government Organisations (NGO)
- Country Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS)
- Occupational Therapists
- Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP)
- Country Health South Australia Local Health Network (CHSALHN) clinicians, Victor Harbor
30 May 2017
- Department for Communities and Social Inclusion
- Mental Health clinicians, Murray Mallee
- Central Adelaide Local Health Network (CALHN) Mental Health leaders
- Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) Communities – 225 people from 38 different cultural backgrounds
- Uniting Communities
- Working Women’s Centre
- UniSA Student Union & Counsellors, Magill
- Community members, Lameroo
31 May 2017
- Parents of young children
- SAHMRI Aboriginal Research Team
- NEAMI community mental health service
- Helping Young People Achieve (HYPA)
- Office for the Ageing
- Office of Public Health
June 2017
Key Findings Discussion Paper
The SA Mental Health Commission releases the Key Findings Discussion Paper and encourages South Australians to participate in our listening posts, survey, pop-up stalls and online opportunities (listed below).
Over 570 South Australians provide comment on the Discussion Paper’s 7 themes emerging from the initial consultation process.
30 June 2017
- Community members, Ceduna
3 July 2017
- Community members, Kingscote, Kangaroo Island
4 July 2017
- Listening Post Phone In – SA Mental Health Commission
- Evanston Gardens Library
5 July 2017
- Listening Posts – SA Mental Health Commission
- Woodville Library
- Tea Tree Gully Library
- West Lakes Library
6 July 2017
- Listening Post Phone In – SA Mental Health Commission
- Marion Library
- Port Adelaide Library
7 July 2017
- Listening Post Phone In – SA Mental Health Commission
- Noarlunga Library
8 July 2017
- Goodwood Library
10 July 2017
- Listening Post Phone In – SA Mental Health Commission
- Murray Bridge Shopping Centre
- Mt Barker Library
- Unley Library
11 July 2017
- Listening Post Phone In – SA Mental Health Commission
- Burnside Library
12 July 2017
- Listening Post Phone In – SA Mental Health Commission
- Payneham Library
25 July 2017
SA Mental Health Strategic Plan Workshop
Members of the Commission's advisory groups and community stakeholders attend a workshop to discuss key themes identified from our wide-ranging conversations and consultations with South Australians.
