The Final Report on the Review of the Mental Health Act 2009 has been released. The SA Law Reform Institute of the University of Adelaide was asked to undertake the independent statutory review.
The Government will now consider the recommendations and work on what the next steps will be, in consultation with key mental health groups and consumers.
Further information is available at:
In November 2021 the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist undertook an independent review of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjajara (APY) Lands. In 2023 the Office undertook a follow-up review to consider progress in re-establishing services.
Read the full storyAs a result of recent visits, the following gazettal conditions have been placed effective 11 January 2024. This is to address building limitations placing a condition on the use of dual occupancy rooms at Noarlunga and the QEH, and conditions at Birdwood Ward related to the physical condition of the building. It is expected that redesign and renovation will be required at all three sites so that these conditions can be lifted:
Read the full storyThe Office of the Chief Psychiatrist has developed the Chief Psychiatrist’s Standard – Sexual Safety in Mental Health Services, as a strategy to address sexual and gender-based violence in mental health settings. The Standard describes expectations in relation to the creation and maintenance of sexually safe and gender sensitive environments for the delivery of mental health services in South Australia, namely, those locations where a person with a mental illness may be assessed and treated in a health setting under the Mental Health Act 2009, including hospital inpatient or community mental health settings.
Read the full storyConsultation on the development of a Mental Health and Wellbeing Act has been extended. A discussion paper has been released on the YourSAy consultation site https://yoursay.sa.gov.au/mentalhealthactreview. Submissions can now be received until Friday 12 January 2024.
Read the full storyThe Annual Report of the Chief Psychiatrist was tabled in Parliament on 30 November 2023. Please see below if you wish to access a copy.
Read the full storyConsultation is now open on the development of a Mental Health and Wellbeing Act. A discussion paper has been released on the YourSAY consultation site with details of information sessions https://yoursay.sa.gov.au/mentalhealthactreview. The Office of the Chief Psychiatrist welcomes this opportunity to align mental health legislation with contemporary mental health and human right-based practice and encourages South Australians to have their say.
Read the full storyPlease note the following updates: - Spaces are still available for sessions this week including the online focus group - Friday 22 September 2023. - Two additional days of consultation have been opened up on 27 and 28 September 2023 for one hour group or 30 min individual interviews. - The Focus Group on 12 October 2023 has been cancelled, those who have enrolled will be offered an alternative time. - More background details regarding the consultation are available in this news item. You are invited to participate in a consultation to explore how the former SICC (Southern Intermediate Care Centre) may be best utilised to meet the mental health needs and expectations of the community living in the southern Adelaide metropolitan area. Please note that a range of options are being considered, including in, no particular order: a refreshed intermediate care centre model, a lived experience-led centre, a therapy focus model, dual diagnosis centre and a youth sub-acute service or a multi-use alternative.
Read the full storyThe Rural Mental Health Services Review report and SA Health response were tabled in parliament on the 14th of September 2023.
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