Residents across Victoria have had their say on the state government’s new Mental Health and Wellbeing Act, which will help build the state’s new mental health system.
The new Act will also solidify the recommendations from the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System.
The Royal Commission set out a 10-year plan for creating a balanced, flexible and responsive system that delivers individualised care for every Victorian who needs it, including in the northern suburbs.
People from across the state with lived experience in the mental health sector – from consumers, families and carers, to workers and providers – provided feedback on the proposals for the new Act.
Feedback included 283 written submissions, and 28 targeted engagement sessions which yielded more than 500 responses.
Mental Health Minister James Merlino said the participation from the community was valuable.
“I want to thank every Victorian with their own experience of our mental health system who shared their stories with such generosity – it’s wonderful to see how passionate people are about helping design our new system,” Mr Merlino said.
“We’re listening to everyone’s views as we develop this new Act to deliver the care and treatment every Victorian with mental health concerns – and everyone who cares for them – deserves.”
A report summarising the feedback – the What We Heard report – is available on the Engage Victoria website.
Details: engage.vic.gov.au/mhwa
