New year … new Manna solutions

In mid-December the Federal Government Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler released the Mid-year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO). It highlighted important reforms to the Australian mental health system. This included further investment in existing and new digital services to ensure 24/7 access to mental health support and further investment in services for First Nations Australians and children and young people.

So, as we move into 2024, what are the implications for rural and regional communities, the mental health workforces that support them and the work of our institute? Manna Director Professor Myf Maple shares her thoughts.

“The government’s priorities – to improve access to health services, expand digital mental health service system navigation, and extend education and training opportunities for regional students, including those studying health disciplines through new regional study centres – are important steps in developing a mental health system that is equitable and accessible,” Myf said. “Much of the research and training Manna has underway focuses on equity and access and aligns with key elements of the government’s directions in mental health care.

“Precision targeting is needed to ensure that resources are available to support everyone who needs support at the time they need it. However, mental ill-health isn’t always easy to identify early, and there is still shame and stigma related to being mentally unwell, and this is particularly pronounced in regional areas.”

Myf said that ensuring there are many entry points into support, like the digital gateways announced, helps to open access.

“However, an unintended consequence of the government’s extension into 60-day prescribing is that community pharmacists who know their communities really well have less face-to-face contact with people with mental health concerns.”

In late 2023 the National Mental Health Commission released the Curiosity, Compassion and Care report based on extensive research by the University of New England. It drew on the first-hand experiences of more than 3,400 people.

Curiosity, Compassion and Care highlighted the need for:

• A whole-of-community, whole-of-service approach to mental health;

• Services that increase connectedness;

• Early responses to distress;

• The monitoring of disconnection and transition; and

• A move away from describing mental ill-health as a single event.

“Manna’s work focuses on these five key areas, exploring innovative ways to address people’s needs, as well as the barriers to accessing appropriate care,” Myf said. “Our projects demonstrate the power of place-based translational research and preventative interventions for the most vulnerable in regional communities.”

A disappointment in the MYEFO announcement was the cessation of the Regional Research Collaboration scheme that funded the establishment of Manna Institute.

“The removal of this initiative is hugely disappointing. Initiatives focused specifically on regional Australia and those who live, work and play outside our cities have demonstrated time and again that our needs are different, and so are the solutions needed to address inequities,” Myf said. “Manna Institute will continue to advocate for regional Australians across many platforms as we extend our reach and continue to explore diverse funding to ensure the continuation of our important work.”