The Guardian 15 March, 2006
Good news:
but not enough, for mental health
Peter Mac
The movement beyond blue, which aims to assist people suffering from severe depression and to improve public understanding of their condition, has welcomed the decision of the NSW Government to join its ranks. It is the last State to do so.
Former Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett, now making a socially valuable contribution as Chairman of Beyond Blue, commented: "It’s the last link in the chain. With NSW’s support, it means we are funded by and working in partnership with every government in Australia — Federal, Territory and State. It’s wonderful how Beyond Blue continues to reach beyond party politics, across competing sectors and policies to help people with depression, wherever they live in Australia."
One million Australians currently suffer depression each year; 20 percent of the population will experience depression in their lifetimes. According to Leonie Young, Beyond Blue’s CEO, 61 percent of NSW residents underestimate the prevalence of depression and don’t understand that it is an illness, not a weakness.
Ms Young acknowledged the Federal and State Governments’ recent joint contribution of $1.1 billion for preventive health initiatives, but warned that further help is needed. She noted: "… we are impatient to see significant changes and improvements in the health system. With a million people in Australia living with depression, and only a third getting appropriate help, this commitment to improving mental health services hasn’t come a moment too soon."
The NSW Government’s tardy support for Beyond Blue has not extended to the volunteer-operated Lifeline scheme. Established 43 years ago, Lifeline’s 15 call centres (two have been forced to close) now counsel 200,000 persons per year, dealing with bereavement, divorce or separation, as well as personality disorders, depression, bipolar disorders and psychotic illnesses The organisation carries a huge load (financial and professional) which would otherwise be borne by the State’s mental health and social welfare services.
However, its 2,015 workers are often stretched to breaking point. The Reverend Keith Garner, superintendent of the Wesley Mission which runs Lifeline, commented: "We cannot effectively meet demand unless we train more counsellors, and in many areas of the State Lifeline is the only comprehensive 24-hour telephone service available."
To meet this demand, four years ago Lifeline applied to the NSW Government for recurrent funding of $2.85 million, an increase of $1.35 million. The Government, unmoved and unresponsive to a remarkable degree, has refused the request. It will provide an extra $500,000 to help Lifeline link in with the new national health call centre, whose services it will share with other organisations, but this is a "one-off" grant spread over two years, and will not help Lifeline meet its major operating expenses.
Moreover, it evokes disturbing memories of last year’s near disaster, when Telstra moved to end sponsorship of Lifeline’s calls. This was only averted by direct intervention from the Prime Minister, who doubtless did not welcome further political embarrassment from Telstra’s dollar-driven management team.
Lifeline’s situation is now beginning to resemble that of its desperate clients. Gary Moore, director of the NSW Council for Social Services, recently commented: "If (Lifeline) were to disappear or be severely reduced it would mean a flood of new clients onto services with already heavy demand, and just make it more difficult for people to access care."
As a result of its own miserliness, the State Government is now threatened with a huge extra load on its already over-stretched, mental health and welfare services, because Lifeline may have to further reduce its services, or may even cease to exist. And the outlook for its clients in such circumstances is truly frightful.