AICAFMHA:
promoting mental health for young Australians
Australian Infant, Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Health Association Ltd
ABN 87 093 479 022
Back to AICAFMHA Homepage / News in Brief Index / Issue #25
PEAK MENTAL HEALTH BODY CALLS FOR THE DISMISSAL OF THE ASSISTANT FEDERAL TREASURER
The Mental Health Council of Australia (MHCA) - the peak, national, independent mental health body established to represent and promote the interests of the Australian mental health sector and the mental health of all Australians - calls on the Prime Minister to immediately dismiss Senator Helen Coonan, Assistant Federal Treasurer, from his Ministry and to apologise to the public for the highly insulting and derogatory comments made by Senator Coonan today about people suffering from anxiety and depression.
The Chairperson of the MHCA, Mr John McGrath, said:
"The comments made by Senator Coonan this morning on Radio National about people suffering from anxiety or depression were highly insulting to the many thousands of people in Australia with these disorders. Comments such as these are grossly ill-informed and highly distressing.
There is a wealth of evidence both nationally and internationally which proves that people with an anxiety or depressive disorder have a genuine mental illness and suffer a high degree of disability.
It is regrettable that while the Federal Government has injected many millions of dollars into reducing the stigma of mental illness that a senior member of Government can make such irresponsible comments that do nothing more than cause distress and increase the stigma against people with a mental illness."
The Global Burden of Disease, conducted by the World Health Organisation, found that by the year 2020 mental illness would account for 15% of disease burden worldwide and that depression would be one of the leading causes of disease burden, second only to ischaemic heart disease. Two Australian studies, The National Profile of Mental Health & Well-being, an audit of Australians' Mental Health (ABS 1997) and the Australian Burden of Disease Study (AIHW, 1999) confirmed these findings in the Australian context.
The CEO of the MHCA, Dr Grace Groom, said:
"The MHCA recognises the Federal Government's very good track record in improving the delivery of mental health care in Australia. However, Senator Coonan's comments appear out of step with the Government's position when she describes "people with an anxiety condition or depression" as "malingerers" and suggests that they "really do need to get over (their condition) and get back to work". Clearly, Senator Coonan does not understand that anxiety and depressive disorders are recognisable disorders that can cause a high degree of disability.
It is questionable that Ministers who show such a lack of understanding about the seriousness of a major health problem in this country have the capacity to hold such a senior position in the Government."
For further information, contact Mr John McGrath via mobile phone on 0408 621 270 or Dr Grace Groom via mobile phone on 0417 289 461.
Back to AICAFMHA Homepage / News in Brief Index / Issue #25
Printable Version