THEMHS is the largest Mental Health Services Conference (TheMHS) in Australia and New Zealand, conducted annually. This year, the venue was Adelaide.

The usual Consumer Forum was held on 28th of August 2000 at the Adelaide Convention Centre. One result was a document : 23 Big Issues facing Consumers (click this!).

It was compiled by Steven Pitcher, E-MAIL stevenpitcher55@hotmail.com .. the Consumer Organising Committee would like to thank all 200 plus MH cønsumers who helped develop this document.

For the links list     << I have a 19 year old son that was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in February, 2000.  I really struggled with this and now I have set up a page.     sites.netscape.net/boysmum2000/schizophreniahomepage >>

[from the BBC]

Tougher controls for mentally ill in the United Kingdom

" Some patients are told there is no help available"

The (UK) government has unveiled plans for the biggest shake up of the mental health system in 40 years. A White Paper, launched by Health Secretary Alan Milburn in the House of Commons on Tuesday, contains proposals for: * new orders to detain people with severe personality disorders who are considered dangerous. * powers to force people with serious mental illnesses to take their medication

For the first time, all decisions to apply compulsory powers to a patient for more than 28 days will be subject to independent scrutiny by a judicial body - the Mental Health Tribunal. A new Commission For Mental Health is to be established with a remit to monitor the quality of decision making and whether powers in new legislation were being properly used.

Mr Milburn said new care and treatment orders would mean patients subject to compulsory treatment whether in hospital or in the community would have to comply with the terms of their treatment programme. Refusal to do so could result in the patient being readmitted to hospital.

The new legislation would allow victims of mentally disordered offenders to be given "appropriate information" about the offender's discharge. Victims would also be able to make representations to the mental health tribunal when it is considering discharging an offender from hospital.

Happy Christmas everyone from the team. Our next issue will be uploaded in mid-January.

" There is every reason to believe
That happiness can be wrought from disaster "

  by John Furnissc .. there's more poetry to be found here.