Credentialed Mental Health Nurses

The Australian College of Mental Health Nurses (ACMHN) joins the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists’ (RANZCP) in condemning the recent announcement by Queensland Health to introduce ‘lock-up’ security measures to all adult mental health hospital inpatient facilities in Queensland, and the expansion of the use of ankle bracelets.

This week, Queensland Health ordered the State’s 16 mental health inpatient facilities to be secured, and a new ‘locked-door’ policy to be adopted effective 15 December 2013.

“We fully understand the need for safety and security, but a decision to lock all mental health units, as a knee jerk reaction to address issues of absconding, is a retrograde and draconian solution. It seems that no consideration has been given to the rights of those who are voluntarily admitted for treatment and care”, says Adjunct Associate Professor Kim Ryan, CEO of the ACMHN.

“We need to be working towards a mental health system that supports people with mental illness to live rich and meaningful lives. The Newman government can’t cut costs and pare back services, and not expect there to be a consequence. The cost of installing locks and electronic security could be better spent providing more support and staffing to the units”, said Adj. Assoc. Prof Ryan.

“We also need to continue to address stigma associated with mental health issues; the media surrounding the decision by Queensland Health has inferred that all people with mental health issues are a risk to themselves or others – this is simply not the case”, Adj. Assoc. Prof. Ryan said.

Dr Murray Patton, President of the RANZCP, says these plans go against the principles of least restrictive care.

“For patients, being locked into a ward is affiliated with more anger, irritation and depression, hardly the goals of the mental health system”.

The RANZCP is calling on Dr Michael Cleary, Queensland Health's deputy director-general who ordered the security upgrade, to reverse this decision and establish a process of consultation with the mental health units regarding the actions being taken to address incidents of absconding.

The Mental Health Nurse Incentive Program (MHNIP) funds mental health nurses to work collaboratively with GPs and psychiatrists to support people with severe and persistent mental illness. This is a very economical and efficient collaboration, funded by Medicare and bulk-billable. It usually costs patients nothing, in contrast to the unaffordability of consultations with psychiatrists and the limited availablility of funding for psychologists. The Australian College of Mental Health Nurses (ACMHN) welcomes the release of Government and Coalition election policies on mental health, but College President Prof Wendy Cross has expressed concern that the Mental Health Nurse Incentive Program (MHNIP) was not mentioned by either party. The ACMHN calls on whoever forms the next Australian Government to match the funding committment of the Greens, who put the figure of $210 million over three years.

“The MHNIP is a successful program that keeps people with complex mental illness out of hospital. It helps them live productive, self-directed lives” says Prof Cross.

A re-elected Labor Government will commit $83 million to address mental health priority areas, which it says are headspace, Lifeline, and supporting new and existing workplace mental health and suicide prevention initiatives.

Should the Liberal Party get elected, they will establish a National Centre for Excellence in Youth Mental Health, task the National Mental Health Commission with evaluating all existing mental health programs, continue to support the expansion of headspace centres and provide the Young and Well Cooperative Research Centre with $5 million to establish an e-health platform that will bring together a wide range of existing services.

Neither party mentions the MHNIP in their plans, which the ACMHN finds disconcerting and illogical, considering the successful outcomes identified by the government’s 2012 evaluation.

The MHNIP funds mental health nurses to work collaboratively with GPs and psychiatrists to support people with severe and persistent mental illness. The Program was capped in May 2012 and access for new medical practices has been limited. Current funding allocations in the forward estimates are insufficient to meet existing service levels.

“The Greens committed $210 million over three years towards the MHNIP. An extra $70 million per year will allow the services provided to be accessible to many more vulnerable Australians”, CEO of the ACMHN, Adjunct Associate Professor Kim Ryan said.

“We repeat our call for all major parties to commit to the continuation and growth of this vital program”, said Ms Ryan. “We call on whoever forms the next Australian Government to match the funding commitment of the Australian Greens”.

Source: Media release: Kim Ryan, CEO Australian College of Mental Health Nurses 02 6285 1078