25 JUNE 1999 .. a web newsletter for psych. consumers in Australia

A suicide prevention foundation was promised by the Victorian Government in 1997. The foundation was to offer education, fundraising and grief counseling. The Kennett Government indicated this week that this has been abandoned. A National Institute of Depression will be established.

There is controversy about whether depression is the only causative factor in these deaths. Agencies in rural Victoria are reporting a rising rate of emotional/mental health problems, and especially a steady increase in youth suicides : 1% each year. There are high rates of unemployment in these regions.

THEMHS is an annual conference for cønsumers, mental health providers, carers and more, conducted in Australia or NZ. Whose Dreams? Whose Realities? is the theme of the 1999 conference at the Melbourne Convention Centre , Wed. 22nd. - Fri. 24th. September. A free BBQ will be held in Brunswick on Monday 20th. from 4 pm. (ph. VMIAC 03-93878317), open to everyone.

The usual cønsumer day/forum will run on Tuesday 21st., open to consumers only from 10 am. for $10, followed by a social event from 5:30. The locations are not available to us at the moment, sorry. Isabell Collins will talk on "building MH services from a cønsumer perspective". Other speakers are Evelyn Webster and Neil Cole. Bookings are needed for these cønsumer events - see THEMHS registration form. A carers forum will be conducted that afternoon.

Reg. fees for the main conference: concession for attending all 3 days is $150. A day concession is offered at $50. Some consumer subsidies will be available from THEMHS for cønsumers - apply before the end of July.

Conference speakers include Jill Gray (VICSERV), Prof. Elizabeth Kuipers (U.K.), Gavin Mooney, Cath Roper, Arana Pearson , Dr. Harvey Whiteford ( yes, from the World Bank ) and Larry Davidson.

If you want to contact the THEMHS Secretariat in NSW, ph: (02) 9926 6057 or check THEMHS' Web page .. www.themhs.org or Email enquiries@themhs.org More information in the next issue.