Helping people to meet new people, make friends and develop relationships is an important part of what Flourish Australia does. These relationships are key to mental health recovery and ensuring people stay connected. Indeed, relationships and regular connection with others is protective to the negative consequence of social isolation and loneliness which also have a significant impact on physical and mental health. The importance of a focus in this area is highlighted by the current Parliamentary Inquiry into Social Isolation and Loneliness in NSW.
The Mental Health Commission of NSW reports that “Nearly half of residents in New South Wales report experiencing feelings which are related to loneliness ‘some of the time’ or ‘often’”; and Individuals with self-reported mental health issues and those in the 18-29 age group report higher frequencies of loneliness. In their submission to the Inquiry the Commission notes “Loneliness is a multifaceted issue that intersects with various social determinants of mental health and wellbeing, making it an ideal candidate for a whole-of-government approach. Addressing loneliness requires more than mental health services alone; it involves coordinated efforts across different government sectors and systems.”
An approach considering the social determinants of mental health and wellbeing encourages us to see all of the parts of a person’s life; and the whole support system. It emphasises how important it is for us to work together. A comprehensive, integrated, holistic mental health system which values each participant – people with lived experience, families and carers, clinicians, community managed organisations, the public and private sectors – is what is required to deliver contemporary mental health services.
To achieve this requires a commitment to relationships and dialogue; of working together and valuing the views and input of each partner. A focus on preferencing one over the other will condemn us to the status quo, and the familiar merry go around we like to call mental health reform. As a mental health sector, we probably agree on more things than we disagree on. But that is not always the view people outside the sector see.
In December, Mental Health Australia’s published its Vision Statement: A Mentally Healthy Australia, with a view to working together and improving Australia’s mental health, encouraged by 81% of voters stating they were concerned about mental health and 75% demanding greater government action on mental health. If you have not seen it, I encourage you to have a read. It provides some key ideas for addressing these issues, unsurprisingly underpinned by relationships, collaboration, and with a prime role for people with lived experience, and their families, carers and supporters.
This month we have a story on our co-designed Social Citizenship Framework. This is work that was led by Fay Jackson, our former General Manager, Inclusion and inspired by thinking around how people practically pursue their mental health recovery within their local communities. It also sets out commitment Flourish Australia makes to engaging, developing and promoting community relationships, and what we came to call social citizenship. Michael and Kelly’s recovery stories are great examples of what came happen when these recovery resources and relationships are activated.
Thank you for your ongoing relationship with Flourish Australia and supporting the work we do supporting people to live, learn and work in the community of their choice. It means everything to us and the people we walk alongside.
Mark Orr AM
Chief Executive
