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Newsletter Number 10
November 2002
DIRECTORS REPORTRecently we appealed to Federal and State Politicians Australiawide, from all political parties, informing them they are to blame for the inadequate Mental Health System we have in place today, and that collectively they can change the present system if they wish.
Their responses were absolutely appalling. Mainstream media has also turned its back on mental health issues, and shirked their responsibility to the Australian people to be the watchdog of Government. With the exception of talk back radio, local television coverage and local community newspapers, the commercial networks and news services have done nothing more than parrot the Government.
The White Wreath Association Inc. is dedicated to having mental illness and suicide recognised as a very serious and life threatening condition. We will continue to fight for "Action Against Suicide."
Our research from the people who have contacted us, such as families and carers directly affected by mental illness/suicide, clearly indicates that the first point of contact with the mental health system and the health system generally, highlights the fact that accurate and effective assessment of patients is falling down.
QUESTIONS
If it is agreed that suicide is life threatening (as it self-evidently is) then the question arises "Why don't these people receive the sort of speedy emergency services/help that anyone else would receive with a life threatening disorder" eg heart attack/stroke/serious injury etc.
All replies to date are in fact bureaucratic delays and multiple interpretations at a time when delays could cost a life.
What other life threatening emergency is subject to such delay.
Confidentiality must not be allowed to cause loss of life. Common sense, natural justice and good professional practice dictate that preservation of life is the paramount consideration.
The key question that has been ignored is: "What happens when a suicidal, mentally ill person, their friend or loved ones first appeal for help?"
We know from our own research that these people are routinely turned away, and this is where early intervention should be occurring.
Fanita Clark
Director
Thank you to: Newhaven Funerals - Phil Connolly |
Fruits of Life- Ross &Emmanuel |
| Straddie Kingfisher Tours - Dave Thelander |
Garden City |
| Dr Murray Anderson |
Woolworths Garden City |
| Cr Judy Magub |
Carina Leagues Club Ltd |
| Yellow Cabs |
Brisbane Lions Soccer Club |
| Craig Emerson MP |
Browns Plains Hotel |
| Trev & Debb Mason S.A. |
Caroline Odgers Melbourne |
| James Parnell |
Glenn Honey for supplying most of the items on our wish list |
| Brisbane Womens Soccer Assoc Inc |
Balloons Above - Jason & Sharon Harm |
| Yeronga Football Club |
Australian Multiplex Cinemas |
| Nestle Australia Ltd |
NWJ Jewellers |
| Nando's, |
Algester Sports Inc |
| Denmac Ford |
The Australian Woolshed |
| Stylers Body Works |
Amalgamated Confectionery Springwood - Martin Leigh |
| Kirwanis Club of Brisbane Inc |
Kimberely Park State School, for holding a "Gold Coin Day" and raising funds |
| The Bower Bird Shop - Gail Webb |
Ruth Avenell - Logan City |
| The Markets West End Shopping Centre - Jane Pocock |
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The White Wreath Association would like to also thank Logan Central shopping centre for giving us mush support over the past couple of years.
GRIEF SUPPORT: LOSS THROUGH SUICIDEThe effect of suicide on family and friends can be devastating and long lasting. It alters everyone's life, and often the tragedy is difficult to discuss without adopting a morbid approach. Family and friends need to talk about what happened. They need each other's support. Open discussion is hard to achieve at times of trauma. We are holding a support group for this very reason. For more details Ph Donna on 07 3265 3751, or mobile 0402 781 884.
IMPORTANT NOTICEIt is vitally important that The White Wreath Association Inc. - Action Against Suicide be seen and heard to advise people to seek help from qualified health professionals. We cannot, and do not, offer professional or clinical services at the moment. If you are approached by a suicidal person/friend or loved ones about an impending or possible suicide, please direct them straight to medical services. Particularly their own psychiatrist if they have one, Emergency Services, GP, Mental Health Clinic etc. By all means we offer comfort and moral support as non-professional people acting from our own experiences. If you are in any doubt as to how you should handle a particular call please refer them to the Director, Fanita, at Head Office.
HEALTH INQUIRY REPORTThe outcome of this inquiry states what we, the White Wreath Association, have been claiming from the beginning of incorporation.
How many more inquiries must there be before Action Against Suicide is implemented?
Our findings, whether directly from people who have been affected by suicide or mental illness and have either telephoned, emailed or written to us, clearly indicate the lack of services, lack of treatment and the consistency of not involving family and carers in treatment by using their knowledge of their loved ones who are suffering mental illness and are suicidal. Instead the medical profession treat the family and carers as though they are paranoid or schizophrenic rather than drawing on their knowledge and respecting their opinions in determining the health and happiness of their loved ones. Hiding behind the "Confidentiality Law" and denying sufferers appropriate treatment by not working with family/carers obviously is not working as suicide statistics are increasing.
Being in denial and not accepting the seriousness of suicide and mental illness is working against us all. We must work as a team to help combat this epidemic that is in plague proportions.
Extracts from the report
Real team work is fundamental, including proper inter-agency co-operation, effective liaisons and not hiding behind confidentiality. Involving and listening to all members of the clinical team and, essentially to listen to carers and relatives as well as the service users so that the working alliance with the professional team is a truly one.
To improve the accuracy of risk assessments practitioners must address the issue of involving relatives and carers in understanding a person's mental illness. It is time to look again at any tendency to hide behind misguided belief in confidentiality.
A person discharged from a psychiatric hospital had not wanted his/her family views sought by the clinical team. So on the grounds that he/she was an adult and therefore had the right to withhold consent, his/her parents were not consulted and confidentiality was considered to be one of he factors that adversely influenced professional practice. The issue of consent and confidentiality needs to be addressed in order to make progress with these particular elements of risk assessment.
Inquiries often draw attention to the value, which would have been gained in risk assessment from careful attention to the experience and understanding of relatives.
Feelings and views of relatives are not seen to carry the same value or objectivity as those of clinicians. It is most important to understand the patient's view of the world, but also, "professionals need to be trained to trust the experienced judgment of close family, rather than rely on their own impressions made at one isolated assessment". Effective risk management requires needs and rights of relatives to be involved in care and treatment plans.
The issue of underestimating the risk by not listening to relatives and carers is such a strong feature of inquiry reports that examples are almost too numerous to mention.
Neither information from research nor institution can be of value in the absence of an accurate and comprehensive history, drawing on all sources of available information and evaluated by experienced professionals.
The key principle of risk assessment is to use all available sources of information - a proper assessment cannot be made in the absence of information about a patient's background, present mental state and social functioning, and also his or her past behaviour, carers, friends, the police, probation officers, housing departments and social workers, and also local press reports and concerns expressed by neighbours.
BELINDA'S STORYOn 23 October 2000, my beautiful 24-year old daughter caught a taxi to the Kuraby Railway Station. She walked onto the platform and headed north walking between the train tracks. As the train driver to Beenleigh travelled down the slight incline towards Kuraby Station, the driver saw my daughter with her arms outstretched almost welcoming her certain fate. Although he took immediate evasive action he was unable to stop the train in time and my daughter Belinda was killed instantly.
Why had this beautiful, talented girl - a much loved daughter, sister, mother and friend ended her life in such a seemingly tragic manner?
Belinda was the middle of three daughters born 3 years and 3 months apart. She and her sisters were much loved, encouraged, disciplined and praised and raised in a close family, which in turn was supported by many extended family members and friends. Although Belinda appeared to have it all - good looks, talent and a caring sensitive nature she had always seemed to have problems. I remembered early constipation problems. She had her first asthma attack at 7 years old, an illness that plagued her all her life. She was often anxious and suffered panic attacks. Through it all, though she was a bright student and she excelled at sport and music.
At 12 years of age Belinda started experimenting with alcohol and marijuana, became sexually active, once ran away from home and her schoolwork deteriorated. She became disruptive in class and became well known to the school administration. The stress started to take it's toll on the family. I took Belinda to school and church counsellors but no one seemed able to help. She was labelled uncontrollable, a bad influence, promiscuous and rude. She was a round peg in a square hole. We encouraged her to join lifesavers and at 15 years of age, while attending lifesavers' camp, she overdosed on tablets and alcohol. She was hospitalised overnight and discharged the next morning. As a family we were shattered and confused and did not know where to turn.
Our GP referred us to her first psychiatrist and after 5 weeks we were finally given and appointment. She was labelled bipolar and put on antidepressants. During the ages 15 - 20 she remained difficult and unstable but was able to complete Year 12 and then attend university and graduate as a registered nurse. During these years there were several more suicide attempts - cutting her wrists, overdosing on medication, running in front of cars and once swimming out to sea at night. She was under the same psychiatrist this whole time but his only form of treatment was adjusting her medication.
At 20 years old Belinda moved away from home into a flat with another nurse. Before long both girls were heavily into the drug scene. Belinda became addicted to amphetamines almost immediately her life spiralled downhill fast. On her 21st birthday she arrived at our door in an emanciated psychotic state and after trying all day to have her admitted we were finally able to get her admitted into her first psychiatric hospital. She weighted 41kgs and all her body organs were ready to collapse. That was just the beginning of the nightmare.
Over the next three years she endured 20 psychiatric admissions (various private and public hospitals) and several drug rehab admission. Once discharged from hospital she was never offered support. She was labelled bi polar, schizophrenic, suffering schizoaffective disorder and drug addictions. She was told she was delusional, paranoid, depressed, worthless, unmotivated and lazy. She heard voices in her head, had hallucinations, spoke in different voices and was catatonic a lot of the time I was once told that she was possessed by the evil. The various psychiatrists prescribed an assortment of anti-psychotic medications, tranquillisers and antidepressants. These medications nearly always had horrendous side effects, which rendered her fidgety, gave her blurred vision, made it unable for her to concentrate and made her sleepy and unmotivated. She once told me that when she first used speed she felt really happy for the first time in her life. Unfortunately it was too late once she realised how devastating the descent into drug addiction can be.
During a period between hospital admissions she became pregnant. Although strongly advised to terminate this pregnancy she felt that having a child may give her the incentive to become drug free. She cut down the usage considerably and a healthy daughter was born in October 1999. Unfortunately she went into psychosis just after the birth and she was separated from her child and regulated in hospital again. Over the next twelve months she tried so hard to be a responsible loving mother to her child, finally admitting herself into a drug rehab when the going became to tough. She knew that if she did not beat her drug problems she would lose her baby. The Department of Families had become involved. However a couple of weeks after her daughters 1st birthday, the separation from her baby had become to painful and she could not break her addiction. She ran away from rehab and took the final steps to end her life.
I had never given up hope of her getting her life together and the shock was overwhelming. As a family we had done the very best we could to support her, we were all in our own private hell. It was so hard to come to terms with the fact that my beautiful, perfect baby girl born 24 years ago had such a miserable life and had literally self-destructed.
Several weeks after her death I called into the drug rehab where Belinda had spent the last couple of months of her life. Along with her meagre effects, I was handed her journals - a partial record of her life during the previous 3 years. That night when I opened one of the journals I was shattered to read one entry that had been written a couple of years previously, during her most successful hospital/drug rehab admittance when she was about 80 days clean of all drugs. Amongst the many daily entries detailing her daily struggle with life and drugs there was a poignant entry detailing the sexual abuse she had been subjected to by someone trusted by the family, when she was 4 - 5 years of age. At that very spiritual moment I realised why she had taken her life. How I have been so blind? How could I not have known what was going on in my daughter's life? How could I have missed all the signs? I had trusted this person without question. He had always seemed so fond of all my girls - a father figure in fact. Why had I believed the health professionals when they told me my daughter was mentally ill? Why couldn't I have seen the extreme anger and pain my daughter was experiencing every day
I have spent the last 18 months coming to terms with this knowledge. I have had extensive counselling and help from a variety of alternate therapists and friends and come to recognise my own spiritual journey. I have educated myself on sexual abuse, addictions and mental illness. It is my belief that my daughter's psyche was irreversibly damaged at such a young age by cowardly acts of abuse. Those acts had defined her and she had been unable to see that she was so much more than someone of shame and low self worth. She had never been able to reach anywhere near her potential because she had been damaged. I believe her brain blocked out these deeds so she could cope but the feelings of shame and pain kept surfacing and she acted out in an attempt to control them. I have recently been told by one of her friends (someone who was also abused and had travelled a similar path) that the memories surfaced when Belinda started using drugs. I can only surmise that she felt she would not have been believed. She could not face that as well as all the other disappointments she felt she had brought on her family. The counsellor who she was under when she wrote the entry said that when he tried to get her to talk about it she would disassociate. He said he believed that about 80% of girls in rehab have been sexually abused. He was unable to get Belinda to talk about it at all, a not uncommon occurrence with sex victims.
On looking back on Belinda's life I wonder what would have happened if I had recognised why she was so angry and in such pain and despair. Would the medical fraternity have diagnosed her differently? Would society have been kinder? Would I, her mother, been more understanding? Would Belinda have been able to face her demons and find ways such as counselling, the 12 step program, religion, exercise, nutrition, hypnosis, meditation, yoga, massage, reiki, reflexology and acupuncture to repair the damage that was done to her soul. I am sure that when Belinda died she had a chemical imbalance in her brain but I seriously doubt that she had one when she was born.
I know my daughter is in a better place now. Her soul is soaring. My hope is that we as a society stop labelling people whose mind is distorted and feelings are overwhelming because of psychological damage. Lets start looking for causes and not just treating the effects. We must acknowledge the mind/body connection. We must look for many different strategies and therapies and not just rely on pharmacology. For every person labelled "mentally ill" I am sure there is a personal story and their spiritual progress is determined first by their own empowerment and then by finding their own path to healing. Let's start looking at the relationships between sexual, physical and mental abuse and the onset of so called mental illness in later life. Finally we must learn to love one another and acknowledge that we all have a special place in this world. Until we change our mindset from "survival of the fittest" to "brotherhood of man" our world will continue to disenfranchise so many wonderful souls.
THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION RELEASESWhat is depression?
Depression is a common mental disorder that presents with depressed mood, loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, low energy, and poor concentration. These problems can become chronic or recurrent and lead to substantial impairments in an individual's ability to take care of his or her everyday responsibilities. At it's worst, depression can lead to suicide, a tragic fatality associated with loss of 1 million lives per year.
Depression is the leading cause of disability as measured by YLDs and the 4th leading contributor to the global burden of disease (DALYs) in 2000. By the year 2020, depression is projected to reach 2nd place of the ranking of DALYs calculated for all ages, both sexes. Today, depression is already the 2nd cause of DALYs in the age category 15-44 years for both sexes combined.
Depression occurs in persons of all genders, ages and backgrounds.
Facts:
Depression is common, affecting 121 million people worldwide. Depression is among the leading causes of disability worldwide. Depression can be reliably diagnosed and treated in primary care Fewer than 25% of those affected have access to effective treatments Antidepressant medications and brief, structured forms of psychotherapy are effective for 60-80% of those affected and can be delivered in primary care. However, fewer than 25% of those affected (in some countries fewer than 10%) receive such treatments. Barriers to effective care include the lack of resources, lack of trained providers, and the social stigma associated with mental disorders including depression.
Primary care based quality improvement programs for depression have been shown to improve the:
Quality of care Satisfaction with care Health outcomes Functioning Economic productivity And household wealth at a reasonable cost What is schizophrenia?Schizophrenia is a severe form of mental illness affecting 7 per thousand of the adult population, mostly in the age group 15-35 years. Though the incidence is low (3-10,000) the prevalence is high due to chronicity.
Facts
Schizophrenia affects 24 million people worldwide Schizophrenia is a treatable disorder, treatment being more effective in its initial stages More than 50% of persons with schizophrenia are not receiving appropriate care
0% of people with untreated schizophrenia are in developing countries Care of persons with schizophrenia can be provided at community level, with active family and community involvement
There are effective interventions (pharmacological and psychosocial) available and the cost of treatment of a person suffering from chronic schizophrenia is about US$2 per month; the earlier the treatment is initiated, the more effective it will be. However the majority of the persons with chronic schizophrenia do not receive treatment, which contributes to the chronicity.
Pilot programs in a few developing countries (e.g. India, Pakistan, Tanzania, Guinea-Bissau) have demonstrated the feasibility of providing care to people with severe mental illness through the primary health care system by:
Appropriate training of the primary health care personnel; Provision of essential drugs; Strengthening of the families for home care; Referral support from mental health professionals and Public education to decrease stigma and discrimination EMAIL'S, LETTERS AND WEB SITE COMMENTSI am 40 years old. Mother of 4 lovely children. I have been abused in so many ways in my childhood. Attempted suicide five times. Have been divorced. I have been through bad times. In 1989 I received Jesus as my personal saviour and baptised. I began to realise much in life is so important and how important I am, that I am created for a special purpose. It is so sad to see young people full of future taking their life away. I could share and also help.
Not long ago I fell pregnant to a guy who I was involved with. It came to the point where I tried to commit suicide and my daughter was prematurely born and I was in a coma and my liver failed. I was close to death it just wasn't funny. My daughter died and her father wanted to have me arrested for harassment as he couldn't deal with what had happened. I would really like to help others in this situation, and maybe be a motivational speaker.
Here I sit, no wife and broken hearted.
I'm in the shit, no life, I'll soon depart it.
Like you I agree suicides are covered up. When the federal pollies won't even look after their own it looks like every person for themselves. How will we ever know the total amount? One case I heard was a head-on in broad daylight a car drove into a semi no skid marks………train drivers are on stress leave over suicides, the law courts stop dad's from seeing their children, CSA forced dads to go on the dole and get depressed. IT MUST STOP.
I was so happy to hear about your organisation off a friend last evening who had just been to the ceremony in Brisbane.
I lost my best friend almost 2 years ago to suicide. I still keep in contact with her family and her mother told me last night about yesterdays ceremony.
I have attempted suicide approximately 4 times and am a self harmer I chose to cut my arms and legs instead of killing myself it relieves the pain for certain amounts of time.
I was seeing a psychiatrist for 5 years and he just watched me cut myself and sent me home when I was suicidal.
I would really like to help your organization and be part of helping society to realise the problem that is occurring.
Anyway I would love to help out in any way I can. Although at the moment with the full-time care of the two children, something like delivering notices to local libraries would be best. I hope you can think of some way that I might be able to help your association.
Hi! I stumbled across your website while searching the net for information about mental health services. I'm a third year student at Melbourne University. I'm studying abroad from America for the semester. I was just wondering if I could ask you a few questions about your organization. I'm just trying to get some opinions and ideas about mental health in Australia to generate a future paper topic. If you could reply with any information it would be such a great help.
I'm a registered nurse including psychiatric, who is extremely interested in doing something. Late last year I wrote booklets on depression and anxiety, and the response has been overwhelming. Not so much the people buying them but what they are telling me. As I work for the public health service, I am becoming increasingly frustrated at the attitude that prevails within the system.
Despite all the funds, promises, so called services, people are still not able to access help, often turned away because they aren't within the system, too few staff for too big a job, secondment of staff that causes issues because once they get used to one person, someone else takes their place.
I am also running awareness meetings to groups and the public to raise awareness and educate the community. Too many people still think there is nothing they can do once someone says they would like to end their life. Too many people still think they don't show any signs when there is. Amazingly this comes from within the health system too.
I have decided to do this as a business because I know where the money will be going as I will be the one doing it. Costs will be within the realm of the everyday person. The fact that I have suffered a severe depression and never thought of suicide but I did think that if I died it wouldn't be a problem, but it wasn't on my mind. The only time I thought about it was after I was sent to a psychiatrist through the worker's compensation board, who insisted that I did feel suicidal and refused to believe other wise, I went home and thought that maybe I should because that was what was expected. Anyone else who may not have been as positive as I was may have followed through. This is one thing that annoys me considerably by the so called professionals, who insist that all people who are depressed are suicidal and this is taught with much persistence.
I do not dispute the fact that it is a major cause but it is expected to the point where I believe that all other reasons are overlooked. Whilst there may be an underlying undiagnosed depression, I am not totally convinced that this is the whole story.
An emotional crisis, retirement, terminal illness, grief and numerous other reasons exist but a true depression must meet certain criteria for diagnosis. People are still fearful of coming out and saying they have had depression, including myself, for fear of victimisation at work, being ridiculed as weak or of people not understanding and being seen as `mad'. This is why I have endeavoured to educate the community and encourage them to see it as a community issue, that we are all responsible no matter who we are.
I have been involved in the Rotary Community Awareness forum and at the moment on the community for raising awareness in schools here in Toowoomba, but what made me feel quite annoyed was the lack of mental health workers, especially the high level managers, directors, etc, who were not there. That told me a lot and being in the system, was not surprising.
When I wrote the books, I was only doing it to get information to people but I didn't foresee just how difficult it was for people to get what they need to get through it. Some of the worst culprits were doctors who I believe need a great deal of education too.
TRADE WARS?The cost of new technology
Ruined the economy
The Government is in disgrace
Businessmen must take their place
Everything still seems the same
Still pay Tax and Medicare
For services no longer there
Still choose leaders of our own
To hide new Powers behind the throne
The captive workforce works
The captive voter vote
The captive Rulers rule
The captive Markets broke
Economic refugees
Can't take refuge overseas
Nowhere to run nowhere to hide
The only way out is suicide
Ashes to ashes, smoke in the sky
Global warming will be high
Listen 2 meJune 2002 saw the exciting release of the White Wreath's first CD!
The new CD "LISTEN 2 me", features the outstanding talents of Karen Smyth and Ewan Mackenzie and comprises regional songs and covers, including a haunting version of Bob Dylans's "Forever young"
Pure inspiring vocals and intricate guitar work make this album SHINE!
Ewan on acoustic guitar, mandolin, vocals and slide guitar, combined with double bass and Karen's incredibly versatile vocal talent have produced a work that is unique, warm and wonderful.
Karen and Ewan performed at the White Wreath Toowoomba Association Day on 29th May Brisbane, and have now produced this beautiful CD to raise money for the association's White Wreath Centre. 50% of the profits earned from the sale of this CD will go directly to White Wreath.
"It's amazing how some people can turn adversity into a positive message. I'm sure Karen Smyth's CD will be an inspiration to a lot of people"
Rod Henshaw ABC Radio, Brisbane
Orders for the LISTEN 2 me CD can be directed to the Debney Corporation Pty Ltd on:
Telephone: (07) 3257 7496
Or visit the website www.thedebneycorporation.com.au and listen to a sample of some of the great songs
Cost - $24.95 plus p/p $3.95 Australia wide
Limited stock
MEMORIALS
Proposed places and dates:
Rockhampton - March 2003
South Australia - October 2003
White Wreath Day 29 May AnnuallyNew Draft Mental Health Bill - UK Government
The government will modernise and reform current mental legislation by the unveiling in Parliament of a draft Mental Health Bill for consultation.
Health Minister Jacqui Smith and Home Office Minister Hilary Benn will drive forward plans to improve protection for both mental health patients and the public. Their are a small number of patients who will need to be detained for their own safety and the public's protection. The Bill will ensure that seriously ill people get the treatment they need and are prevented from harming themselves or others.
The proposed legislation is the first major overhaul of the system since the 1950's and will bring the current system up to date and in line with new patterns of care and drug treatments.
Jacqui Smith said:
"This new Mental Health Bill is a landmark in legislative reform. 21st century services are being developed in 21st century settings, but our mental health legislation remains rooted in the 1950's. It fails to recognise modern forms of treatment and it fails to properly protect patients or the public."
"Most people with mental health problems are not a risk to themselves or others and most will never need compulsory treatment. Some people, however, because of their illness can be a danger to themselves, whilst very few can pose a risk to others. In these cases government has a responsibility to ensure that treatment can be provided to these patients in the most appropriate way - to protect them, their family and the wider public."
"At the heart of this draft Bill is the need to ensure a new focus on the individual patient. Under current law patients are defined and treated differently - not on the basis of their individual needs, but depending on what category of mental disorder they have. In this draft Bill, we are introducing one broad definition of mental disorder, and one set of tight conditions, to govern the use of compulsory powers. If these conditioned are met and treatment is available, compulsory powers may be used. This will ensure better treatment of dangerous mentally disordered patients and better protection for the public."
"In the past, too many people with mental health problems were rightly moved from crumbling acute hospitals, but wrongly placed in the community with little support and poor treatment. Some lost touch with services with tragic results for themselves and their families. Some started on a cycle of detention in hospital, then discharge to the community only to be forced back into hospital when crisis hit. The reality is that patients need both acute and community care. Investment into acute services has turned round the decline in bed numbers and investment in community services is building new forms of care."
"Since the publication if the NHS Plan in July 2000 we have created almost 500 extra high secure places, more than 320 24-hour staffed beds and 180 assertive outreach teams. This is a good start and we are on track to deliver more community teams and 500 more community health workers."
"Mental health is at the heart of government's investment and reform in the
Health Service. This important piece of legislation is a key part of those reforms and we need to get it right. The Draft Bill has today been issued for a 12 week consultation and this will ensure that the final legislation is developed in a transparent and open fashion and the legislation meets the challenges of modern mental health services and delivers the best possible outcomes for those with mental health problems."
The Bill introduces a single definition of mental disorder. This means that personally disordered people will no longer be excluded from compulsory treatment on the grounds that they are "untreatable", provided they meet the criteria for compulsion.
The draft Bill updates and extends the options currently available to the courts when dealing with mentally disordered offenders. The new provisions for the compulsory treatment of mentally disordered offenders have been developed in the context of the new framework for all compulsory treatment under the draft Bill. At the same time, powers available to the Home Secretary under the current Mental Health Act are retained. These provide for the safe management of those mentally disordered offenders who are judged to present a danger themselves or to the public.
This is something the Australian Government should be considering with mental health legislation! - Fanita Clark (Director)
Raffle Winners!Drawn 28 August 2002 at Forty Winks, Mt Gravatt Store QLD
1st Prize - King Size Single Ensemble (Mrs G. Roy of Sydney)
2nd Prize - $50 (Mrs D Jones of WA)
WHITE WREATH ASSOCIATION INC
CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP
Who Are WeA group of volunteers, members and supporters advocating changes to the mental health system to try to combat the epidemic numbers of suicide deaths plaguing our country.
We are neither radical nor fanatical, but simply people who have lost a loved one to suicide or care enough to try to make a difference by our caring attitude towards members of our community suffering mental illness who could become statistics in the future.
What We DoEducation of the community about the tragically high number of suicide deaths occurring in Australia each year and the need for governments both State and Federal to make changes to the treatment methods of mentally ill patients living in the open community.
Support of mentally ill people who are feeling suicidal by helping them on a daily basis by making sure that all appointments are kept with the medical profession and supporting them by being available by phone, fax and email 24 hours a day seven days a week.
Our organisation receives absolutely no government funding. All the hard work is done by an enterprising group of volunteers striving to make governments and the people of Australia aware of the seriousness of suicide/mental illness and the need to try to combat these unacceptably high numbers of deaths.
We are all working hard towards the Association's goal of the establishment of an in/out patient care facility for people suffering mental illness or who are suicidal. We are in the very early stages where a specific bank account has been established for donations towards this centre. Your support would be greatly appreciated in helping us to bring this vision to reality.
CORPORATE MEMBERSHIPTo assist in our fundraising we ask you to consider becoming a Corporate Member by paying the fee of $500.
Suicide affects families and friends and has a huge impact on people's ability to work. Many businesses have experienced employees who are grieving following the loss of a loved one through suicide.
Help us to help them. Help us to lobby for better recognition of the issue by governments. Help us to increase awareness in the community to the need for Action Against Suicide. WE NEED YOUR HELP NOW.!------------------------------------------------------------
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Your Support can be Mailed to:
White Wreath Association Inc
PO Box 1078
BROWNS PLAINS BUSINESS CENTRE QLD 4118
Email: white.wreath@bigpond.com
When you become a Corporate Member you will receive a half-yearly report outlining the Association's progress and a quarterly newsletter with your business name included in our Thank You's and your business card displayed on our advertisements page. Our Newsletter is circulated throughout Australia to members, Members of Parliament and other interested parties.
As a Corporate Member we will place your "logo" on our website. We also offer you or a delegated representative an invitation to all functions and activities that the White Wreath Association Inc organises. A promotional pack will also be sent. Should you wish to accept the inclusion of the advertisement page and displayed logo please email an attachment of your logo
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Newsletter Number 15February 2004
Table of Contents1. Directors Report 1
2. Our Thankyou list.
3. Did you know…? Some more interesting stats on suicide
4. A/Director of Mental Health, Dr Arnold Waugh, writes to us.
5. Understanding Acupuncture – an alternative to Western Medicine
6. From “The World Today”, a report about China confronting the issue of suicide
7. More from Peter Neame, WWA Research Officer
8. Some of the many emails received by White Wreath
9. Belinda’s Journal, continued…
10. A brave lady is Desiree, read her very inspiring story
11. Why did it cost so much? The financial burden of funerals.
12. A couple of letters of thanks to WWA. One anonymous.
13. Comments in our website Guest Book just continue to grow. We are reaching far and wide…
14. Ever wondered about the "Doubting Thomas" Syndrome? Read about it here
15. Some advice from Dr David Horgan. And a link to a letter from him as well
16. A Wish list of items that will help us tremendously
17. Like to join us? Become a volunteer.
18. Like to make a Donation?. Start here.....
19. Membership renewal time…
20. Advertisers Business Cards. Please support them, as they support us.
A quick note from the editor:
We are back on-line with the web version of the newsletter. While it is not really a “printer friendly” version, we hope that it is easy to read and browse.
For those of you who are new to the newsletter, just click your mouse on any underlined word in the index to take you to that place in this newsletter.
To return to the index, press one of the “Top” buttons that you see on the right hand side of the page.
Please feel free to send any comments, feedback or suggestions to me at my email address trevor@mountgambier.net.
Views and opinions expressed in this newsletter are not necessarily the views of the White Wreath Association Incorporated or it’s members.
DirectorS REPORT
Mental illness is shockingly common, affecting almost every Australian family - directly or indirectly. It can strike a child, a brother, a grandparent, or a co-worker. It can strike people of any background, at any stage of life from childhood to old age. No community is unaffected, no school or workplace untouched.
The reality is that the mental health system looks more like a maze than a coordinated system of care. No one should have to play hide and seek to locate appropriate mental health treatment while watching a relative or loved one deteriorate. We have not found one resource to help us coordinate mental health care for people who contact our association.
Our Nation's failure to prioritise mental health is a national tragedy. However, no loss is more devastating than suicide. So many lives are at stake, so many families and communities struggle to deal with mental illness/suicide. Thousands of lives are lost annually to this largely preventable public health problem. About ninety percent of those who take their own life have a mental disorder. Many have not had the care during the months before their death that would help them to affirm life. The families left behind live with shame and guilt that has been bestowed upon them by the lack of understanding of our society.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) says the treatment of millions of mentally ill people is so poor it amounts to a human rights violation. The WHO is calling on governments to better protect the mentally ill. It estimates that 450 million people around the world suffer from mental disorders. A large number of them, it says, do not receive the health care and treatment they need. WHO reports that 50 percent of countries around the world either have no legislation, or outdated laws on mental health. The WHO's Mental Health Department said many societies discriminate against the mentally ill, and often the developed countries provide inadequate care for those with mental health disorders.
The only way we, as a nation, can overcome this terrible tragedy that is occurring is to stand up and be counted.
A Special “Thank You” to all those who have written in our “Guest Book”, “Emailed Us” and to “Parents”, “Carers” and “Loved Ones” who have allowed us to use their special stories to further the awareness about suicide and mental illness. You are the real strength of our organisation. We know of no other organisation who has such positive feedback from so many people who have been so affected by suicide/mental illness and the deficiency in our health system. This, in particular, relates to the lack of adequate assessment and early admission, bad management during admission and inappropriate discharge.
Our concerns have been borne out by the brilliant article in the “Bulletin Newsweek” Oct 7 2003 by Hall Greenland “A National Scandal”. This article clearly proves that Governments are aware of the increased death rate as a result of the lack of medium and long-term care beds for the mentally ill.
Help us to help you.
Yours sincerely
Fanita Clark
Director
Our Thanks To:We would like to thank the following organisations, businesses and individuals for all their help:
| Index Self Storage, Sherwood, Qld |
Browns Plains Hotel |
| Indooroopilly Shopping Centre |
Hopgood & Ganim |
| Hyperdome Loganholme |
Grand Plaza Shopping Centre |
| Brisbane Tuning & Turbo Centre Woolloongabba |
The Warehouse |
| Capalaba Central Shopping Centre |
· Jupiters Casino Community Benefit Fund
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| Bi Lo Store Woodridge |
Sunnybank Plaza Centre Management |
| Inala Town Centre |
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Our Special Thanks To:
Index Self Storage, Sherwood, Qld.- Thank you John Diegan for continued support with the donation of a storage unit.
Hyperdome Loganholme - especially to Veronica Thomas for her support and understanding towards our cause.
Indooroopilly Shopping Centre - Isabelle Yates
Browns Plains Hotel - for their continued support in supplying a conference room for our meetings
Lawyers for their continued support for professional services
Inala Town Centre - Tracy Hulley
Jupiters Casino Community Benefit Fund- Grant that has enabled us to purchase PA System, Lectern and Generator.
We are, as always, most grateful and appreciate your kind support.
DID YOU KNOW?In AUSTRALIA
DEATH DUE TO INTENTIONAL SELF-HARM, MENTAL & BEHAVIOURAL DISORDERS, ORGANIC, INCLUDING SYMPTOMATIC, MENTAL DISORDERS
(SUICIDE)
RANK IN THE TOP 10 CAUSES OF DEATHS IN AUSTRALIA
Suicide and Mental illness are like a modern cancer, everybody knows someone either directly or indirectly affected by suicide.
Suicide and Mental illness affects all walks of life, all cultures, all age groups, regardless of wealth or fame.
THINK ABOUT THIS!
DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE?
In our opinion, the latest statistics released in December 2003 by the Australian Bureau of Statistics for the year 2002, shows that 8039 deaths resulted from Suicide or Mental Illness. (The government figures are two years behind)
This figure is comprised of:-
Intentional Self-Harm 2320
Mental & Behavioural Disorders 3172
Organic (including symptomatic) mental disorders 2547
TOTAL 8039
The following deaths combined are far less than the total number of suicides during the same period.
Road Accident Deaths 1907
SIDS 119
Breast Cancer 2716
Prostate Cancer 2852
TOTAL 7594
A number of Road Accident Deaths are suicides, however we do not included these in our figures. In addition to this, number of Accidental Deaths (4906 for the year 2002), and deaths in other categories are suicides, but again we have not included these in our figures.
Note: Data supplied by Australian Bureau of Statistics
FOOTNOTE:-
:-
“It is widely recognised by researchers that official suicide mortality statistics underestimate the true extent of suicide mortality”
In support of this statement, references are available on request. Australian Institute for Suicide Research & Prevention
Letter From Dr Arnold Waugh, A/Director Of Mental HealthMrs F Clark
Director
White Wreath Association Inc
PO Box 1078
BROWNS PLAINS QLD 4118
Dear Mrs Clark
Once again, I would like to thank you, Pam and Andrea for meeting with me and my colleagues from the Mental Health Unit. I would particularly like to thank Pam for sharing her personal experience with me, and would ask you to pass on to her my personal thanks and best wishes.
Clearly, the issues behind suicide are very complex, and the solutions to reducing suicide are no less complex. However, I think it is also clear that the family and support agencies such as the White Wreath Association will always play an important role in finding these solutions.
In this light, we will be happy to include the White Wreath Association in our consultation process as we finalise our State-wide guidelines for the assessment of people presenting with suicidal risk.
We will be contacting you regarding this in the next few months.
I look forward to the Mental Health Unit working together with the White Wreath Association.
Yours sincerely
Dr Arnold Waugh
A/Director of Mental Health
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AcupunctureDiscussion on the way in which Alternative Therapies can be embraced in conjunction with Western Medicine, written by well respected Brisbane Acupuncturist and Herbalist (Chinese Barefoot Doctor) Mr Graham Coombs.
Understanding the Philosophy of Traditional Chinese Medicine takes many years of training. I am not trying to suggest this process is over complicated but the first step is to turn away from Western Medicine for a while, and learn to look at things in other ways.
We are taught from a young age that when you are ill, you “go to the doctor”. We are not taught to take responsibility for our health. We are not taught that disease is actually dis-ease, and this is one of the reasons that any system outside the western medicine system is labelled “alternate”.
Yes, it is alternate, and I am so happy such a system is out there. However, be aware that, like the medical profession, there are great, good, average and poor practitioners. Naturopaths, Homoeopaths and Herbalists are trained to understand the way herbal remedies are an alternative to prescription drugs and chemicals. Chinese Acupuncture aims at restoring the order and balance to the meridians of the bodies organ system. Iridology and Reflexology are accepted methods of diagnosis of the body system. Chiropractic is a proven system for correcting disharmony in the body – and I could go on.
There is much information out there. I find that the shortage is in good teachers and educators, and an excess of students who incorrectly think that alternate medicine is a warm and rosy feel good industry. This body of ours is an amazing unit and it tells us many thinks – it never lies! It is my belief that we don’t understand what it is telling us. If only all injuries to the body were physical! We get tackled in life physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually and metaphysically. All this shows up in our health.
If you have read this and have come to the conclusion that we create our own good health or ill health, I have done my job. But hold on, this means there is an implication that we must take responsibility – Right on!
Ill health doesn’t come from dust from Mars! I am not dismissing such things as viruses – but we all know they don’t affect everyone! Have you noticed that when things are going great, you don’t get sick?
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There are many factors impacting on us including nature, our nature, our environment, our upbringing, our work, our relationships, our family, our spiritual connection, our friends, our wealth etc.
We could all start the ball rolling by reflecting on these words by William Jones “The most wonderful thing about my generation is the knowledge that I can change my life by changing my attitude”.
China Confronts Suicide RateThe World Today - Friday, 21 November, 2003 12:45:32
Reporter: John Taylor
HAMISH ROBERTSON For decades, China's Communist rulers have overlooked the country's staggering suicide rate. Each year, it's estimated that about 280,000 people kill themselves and a further two million try, in a nation whose modern founders believed could become an ordinary person's Utopia.
As our China Correspondent John Taylor reports from Beijing, that the extent of China's suicide crisis is now being officially recognised, with work beginning on a national suicide prevention plan.
JOHN TAYLOR Tears streamed down her face as Qing Zhijiang spoke about the suicide of her 14 year-old son, one year ago.
QING ZHIJIANG (translated) I have always been confused why such a thing happened to my family and to my son. After my son died, my previously happy family is now falling apart.
JOHN TAYLOR Mrs Qing was speaking in front of a packed suicide conference in Beijing, attended by Chinese and international health experts, and various government officials.
China appears to be finally starting to address one of its most serious health issues – suicide. Local and International health authorities, and government officials, have this week begun work drafting a national suicide prevention plan.
Dr Michael Phillips from the Beijing Suicide Research and Prevention Centre says China is grappling with an enormous problem.
MICHAEL PHILLIPS Relatively speaking suicide is a more important public health problem than in many other than in any other countries.
For example, nationally by our estimates, suicide is the 5th most important cause of death and in the young productive years of life, 15-34, it's the number one cause of death, and so proportionately, suicide in China is more important than in many developed countries and so we need to start working on this problem.
We've been a little late in starting, but now the government is on board and a number of research projects and hopefully through this meeting we will be able to establish a national suicide prevention plan.
JOHN TAYLOR China's suicide rate is highest in the countryside. And women, particularly nyoug women, are killing themselves in greater numbers than men. Most people die a gruesome death; nearly 60 per cent by ingesting pesticides.
Dr Henk Bekedam, the World Health Organisation's representative in Beijing, says action to address China's suicide crisis is overdue.
HENK BEKEDAM More than 100,000 people die every year from intentional or accidental intoxication of pesticides. These figures cannot be ignored, nor remain without an appropriate response.
JOHN TAYLOR Millions of tears are shed in China every year because of suicide – by people driven to despair and the loved ones they leave behind. Every year about 1 and half million people are estimated to be touched by the loss of a family member or friend. Experts says China is at the beginning stages of reducing its suicide rate, but at least it's a beginning.
This is John Taylor in Beijing, for The World Today
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Peter Neame, Research Officer, White Wreath Association IncWhen I started training as a psychiatric nurse in 1971, it was illegal to refuse a patient admission, and if that individual, his friends or relatives said he was suicidal then he would be admitted and ‘specialled’ for 48 hours or longer. A nurse would be with him, within arms length, every second of the day until the danger was passed.
“Never, on any account, even for one second, permit a patient of suicidal tendencies to leave your sight, no matter upon what excuse or however plausible his desire for privacy may be urged, until those, under whose authority you are acting, withdraw the orders issued with regard to such a patient”
(Handbook for Mental Nurses p22, 1938 Edition – first published 1885, used up to mid 1970’s)
People who are suicidal seek death as you or I would seek life. ‘Managing’ suicidal patients ‘in the community’, ‘counselling’ them, having mass ‘evangelising’ sessions that are ‘life affirming’ are absolute nonsense. They have never worked over the last 30 years. What other medical emergency would you offer counselling, ‘life affirming skills’, etc. instead of immediate admission to hospital? What other life threatening condition would a patient be refused admission? There is none, and this is the real prejudice in mental illness – not recognising how serious it is.
“It is estimated that 17% of psychiatric emergency service patients are suicidal, 17% are homicidal, and 5% are both suicidal and homicidal” (Douglas H Hughes, M.D. – General Hospital Psychiatry, 1996) [Douglas H Hughes, M.D. (1996) Suicide and Violence assessment in Psychiatry]
From: “Profile of the Mass Killer Amok Murder Madness and Badness” by Peter Neame 2003
Professor John Gunn Personality Disorders and Forensic Psychiatry
“All cases in which a health facility has declined to assist with a difficult patient suffering from a recognised disease, and which ultimately goes wrong, for example by a serious attack or homicide following release from prison, should be regarded as a medical failure.”
EMAILSI am a student at UQ I am studying for a graduate diploma of health studies, I am specialising in loss and grief. I have chosen to do this particular course because I lost my son through suicide in 1998. I like you spent many hours and phone calls trying to get help for my son.
I was told it was none of my business, I said because I was his next of kin it would become my business if he died because I would then become responsible for the cost of his funeral.
After my son died I too became very angry at a system that does little to prevent the deaths of people who are dying of pain although a not recognised pain. I have now been supporting people bereaved by suicide for four years. Part of that has been because people have contacted me because they knew I was willing to support others part of it was because I was a member of another organisation.
I have become so disillusioned with the organisation because it focuses mainly on post suicide support. I want to help reduce the numbers. Before I retired I worked for a state government funding body, I was also a community worker for 20 years as I have a diploma in social science.
I am interested in referring people to your organisation, supporting newly bereaved parents and concentrating on having the government realise their duty of care to the people of our community who dangerously suffer their pain in silence and are not given the assistance they so desperately need. I live in Ipswich and we seem to have a fairly high incidence of suicide in our area. Can you send me some information on your organisation?
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To whom it may concern,
I work with state school chaplains throughout Qld. We currently employ 130 chaplains around the state. I was a chaplain myself for over 6 years at a SHS in the northern suburbs of Brisbane. Earlier this year, I was involved in supporting the family, friends & staff of a Yr 12 student who committed suicide. Through my involvement in this situation, I've also been asked to be involved with a White Wreath Day in Kingaroy (rural Qld) next year.
I was also on the steering committee for the Suicide Prevention Australia National Conference in Brisbane earlier this year. I'd appreciate being added to your email mailing list so that I can forward relevant information to chaplains.
Warm regards,
Brad Suosaari
Chaplaincy Development
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Our school is a small Catholic primary school in the Torres Strait.
Congratulations on the work you are doing. It would be good for our primary teachers to know about your organisation because sometimes primary teachers can identify students at quite an early age who may be at risk.
Any information which may contribute to the building up of knowledge of students etc is welcome.
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Have just looked briefly at the newsletter. As well as being a youth worker I of course have a family. My 33 yr old son has Bi-Polar disorder (early drug use.) I will spend more time reading the articles. I have experienced similar difficulties with the mental health system with clients and my own son, his across states NSW Qld Vic and Tasmania. Keep up the fight.
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I recently wrote to you asking about the possibility of obtaining a wreath for a very close friends funeral. Unfortunately I was unable to organise the funds to get the wreath in time. I have found that there are a great number of people out there who have been affected by suicide in some manner or another at some stage during their lives and very few of them know about, or have heard of the White Wreath Foundation.
My friend was also the biggest fan of the band I am in. I have been trying to think of ways that I can help to promote the White Wreath Association. I have been thinking about the possibility of organising a day for a bunch of local bands to get together and hold a concert of sorts to promote and raise money for the White Wreath Association. Our band was deeply affected by the suicide of our young friend and played at his wake. I am planning on putting a memorial page on the Band's website as a tribute to him along with links to the White Wreath Association website.
Please let me know if we could help by holding such a concert as I feel very strongly about this and would be interested in helping to organise the bands for the day.
I am a member of another volunteer group, so I know how hard it is to get things happening and done. I would volunteer to help out myself but unfortunately I could not commit to being available which is why I am offering to organise this concert. If I can use my contacts etc to further promote WWA it is some small way I can help. I am hoping to get as much publicity as possible for you through this concert, either the possibility of the bands who are participating to continue to publicise WWA through their own websites, gig, fan bases etc.
My own personal experience with Logan hospital was not good. I had been taken to the emergency department by my now husband after an attempted suicide. I was admitted immediately, my husband was not allowed to be with me while I was assessed etc and I was released days later without any further treatment by psychiatrists etc. I was not even asked why. The truth of the matter was that I had been in an abusive relationship, left my abusive ex, been stalked by him for 3 months and then he had kidnapped my son. I am happy to say I am very much recovered from my depression and suicidal tendencies. I have put it all behind me and have my son back with me as well.
Since putting the word out yesterday about the possibility of a concert to support the WWA I have 3 bands, including my own who have put their hands up, plus numerous other solo artists, I have also had one Adelaide band email me that if they were in Brisbane they would be in it will bells on! It is still early and I find it encouraging to have such an immediate response. It will be wonderful if this continues and we can get as many as possible, covering as many genres as possible to attract more people to come to the concert.
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