National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership in Mental Health

COMMUNIQUE

The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership in Mental Health (NATSILMH) met for the sixthtime on 28th May 2014.

NATSILMH will issue Communiqués at regular intervals to update stakeholders working in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing, mental health and suicide prevention on its activities.This is the first Communiqué.

What isthe National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership in Mental Health?

NATSILMH’s aim is to help restore, maintain and promote the social and emotional wellbeing and mental health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoplesby advocating and providing advice and leadership in these areas. It also aims to reduce the high rates of suicide among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

NATSILMH’s priority work is to lead and provide advice in the above areas for the mental health commissions of Australia. That is the:

  • National Mental Health Commission;
  • Mental Health Commission of New South Wales;
  • Queensland Mental Health Commission; and the
  • Western Australian Mental Health Commission.

How did NATSILMH form?

NATSILMH’sorigins start with the Sydney Declaration made at the Sydney meeting of Australian and international mental health commissions on 11 and 12 March 2013.Here, the Australian mental health commissions agreed to support the internationalWharerātā Declaration on Indigenous peoples’ mental health and its vision of healthy Indigenous individuals, families and communities. The Wharerātā Declaration and the Sydney Declaration are available on the NATSILMH webpage that is hosted on the website of the Mental Health Commission of New South Wales: and is expected to open in early-to-mid June 2014.

The Wharerātā Declaration’s foundation principles include recognition of indigenous leadership in developing holistic, cultural and community-based approaches in mental health, and the need for support for such leadership. It recommends partnership approaches between mainstream and indigenous mental health bodies to that end. As such, the Australian mental health commissionsalso agreed to support the development of what would become NATSILMH as a part of their commitment to the Wharerātā Declaration.

Following six months of developmental activity, NATSILMH was establishedand first met on 14November 2013at a two-day‘Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leaders in Mental Health Forum’ that was supported by the Mental Health Commission of New South Wales.

Who are NATSILMH’s members?

NATSILMH has coalesced around a core group of senior Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people working in social and emotional wellbeing, mental health and suicide prevention. Most are based in, or associated with, the Australian mental health commissions or other nationally important mental health bodies.Additionally, the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, that delivers mental health and social and emotional wellbeing services to a significant number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, is a member. The founding members are:

  • Professor Pat Dudgeon (Chair) Commissioner, National Mental Health Commission; Co-chair Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Advisory Group;
  • Dr Tom Calma AO, Co-chair of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Advisory Group, National Coordinator Tackling Indigenous Smoking, Chancellor of the University of Canberra, Co-chair of Reconciliation Australia and an Ambassador for Suicide Prevention Australia;
  • Mr Tom Brideson, Mental Health Commission of New South Wales, Community Advisory Council; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Advisory Group;
  • Dr Robyn Shields, Mental Health Commission of New South Wales,Deputy Mental Health Commissioner;
  • Ms Lisa Briggs, CEO, National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (with an agreement that Mr Mark Saunders, NACCHO Aboriginal Men’s Health Policy Officer, will act as proxy as required);
  • Ms Sandy Gillies, Office of the Queensland Mental Health Commission;
  • Professor Gracelyn Smallwood, Queensland Mental Health Commission’s Mental Health and Drug Advisory Council;
  • Ms Vicki Hovane, Co-Chair, Australian Indigenous Psychologists Association; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Advisory Group;
  • Ms Adele Cox, Australian Suicide Prevention Advisory Council;WA Ministerial Council for Suicide Prevention; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Advisory Group; and
  • Mr Danny Ford, Office of the WA Mental Health Commission.

It is anticipated that NATSILMH’s membership will grow over time.

In March 2014, NATSILMH established a Secretariat that operates one day a week. Thisis administeredfrom the Mental Health Commission of New South Waleswith the financial support of the four Australian mental health commissions.Mr Christopher Holland is Executive Officer. He brings to the role over a decade’s worth of experience in working in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and mental health policy and advocacy.

Work completed to date and Work Plan

NATSILMH has met by phone on five occasions since its inaugural meeting (5 December 2013, and 28 March; 16 April; 7 May and 28 May 2014). Over these meetings Terms of Referenceand a Work Planhave been agreed, and itanticipates finalising robust governance arrangements shortly.These documents will be posted on NATSILMH’s webpage as they become available.

NATSILMH hascontributed a submission to the National Mental Health Commission’s National Review of Mental Health Services and Programmes, and plans to participate in the National Children’s Commissioners Inquiry into Suicide and Self-harm in Young People and Children.

NATSILMHis co-hosting (withtheCentre for Research Excellence in Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing, the Telethon Kids Institute, and the Poche Centre andSchool of Indigenous Studies, University of Western Australia) a two-day Roundtable in Perth on 23 -24 June featuring Canadian academic Professor Michael Chandler. Professor Chandler has made significant contributions to understanding the importance of culture to Indigenous suicide prevention and mental health. During this Roundtable, on 24 June, NATSILMH will be formally launched at a lunchtime event, and the body itself will hold its second face-to-face meeting on 25 June.

Our Work Plan also includes:

  • further contributions to the National Mental Health Commission’s National Review of Mental Health Services and Programmes;
  • adapting the Wharerātā Declarationfor Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Australia;
  • hosting a national event for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health, social and emotional wellbeing and suicide prevention stakeholders and workers; and
  • collaborating and guiding the development of a national network of parties working in the field of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health, social and emotional wellbeing and suicide prevention;and
  • formulatinginformed advice and positions on social and emotional wellbeing, mental health and suicide prevention policy and program development and implementation.

Please contact Mr Chris Holland on for further information about NATSILMH’s launch and NATSILMH itself.

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