Australian Government's National Mental Health Commission
About
The National Mental Health Commission monitors and reports on investment in mental health and suicide prevention initiatives, provides evidence based policy advice to Government and disseminates information on ways to continuously improve Australia’s mental health and suicide prevention systems, and acts as a catalyst for change to achieve those improvements. This includes increasing accountability and transparency in mental health through the provision of independent reports and advice to the Australian Government and the community.
The Commission works with stakeholders, particularly people with living experience of mental health, their families and other support people to ensure mental health reforms are collectively owned and actioned.
The Commission’s mission is to promote understanding of the outcomes that matter and drive transformational change across service systems for people with lived experience of mental health issues. With hope that all people in Australia are enabled to lead contributing lives in socially and economically thriving communities.
Projects
National Stigma and Discrimination Reduction Strategy
As a part of the mental health reform agenda the National Mental Health Commission has been tasked with developing a National Stigma and Discrimination Reduction Strategy.
The National Stigma and Discrimination Reduction Strategy (The Strategy) includes a long-term vision for Australia where stigma and discrimination on the basis of mental ill-health are no longer barriers to people living long and contributing lives.
The Strategy’s focus and objectives include:
• Reduce self-stigma amongst those who experience mental ill-health and those who support them
• Reduce public stigma by changing attitudes and behaviours in the general community and amongst identified target audiences
• Take steps towards eliminating structural stigma and discrimination towards those affected by mental ill-health in identified settings.
The Strategy will initially concentrate on stigma and discrimination reduction in the following settings:
• Mental Health System
• Health System
• Financial Services, Insurance and Law
• Education and Training
• Employment
• Social Services, Disability, Income Support and Housing
The Strategy is expected to be developed by December 2022. It will be developed in partnership with people with lived experience of mental ill-health and people who have been directly affected by stigma, along with people with other forms of expertise across the health sector and broader community.
