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Two areas of DACSSA's work over the last five years need special attention as they point to an forever increasing crisis in social policy in this State: the inadequacies of the State's Mental Health services, and the high level of Unmet Need across the disability sector.
Mental Health
Over the past few years DACSSA advocates have played an increasing role in the provision of advocacy to people with a psychiatric disability. A number of these cases have involved discrimination within the wider community, however, increasingly advocacy is directed towards resolving consumer issues with South Australian mental health services.
DACSSA advocates have reported major problems with the attitudes of many mental health workers ranging from the rude and patronising through to threats and intimidation. The lack of resources is a major issue, but unless the attitudinal problems are also addressed it is unlikely that significant improvement in the system will occur.
DACSSA is also concerned at the increasing role the South Australian Police are being required to play within the mental health system. SAPOL officers are not adequately trained to deal with many of the issues they are currently being required to handle. Conversations between senior SAPOL officers and DACSSA staff indicate a growing disenchantment with the way the Government is handling the State's mental health crisis. Similarly, the South Australian judicial system is also at breaking point as a result of the crisis in Mental Health Services in this State, as can be seen from the overload at James Nash House, and the comments coming from Correctional Services about the high incidence of mental health problems in prisons.
Although 2005 saw the introduction of $2.5 Million into community services for people with psychiatric disabilities, from the Department for Families and Communities, and not the Health Department, this is not enough.
The appointment of a Minister for Mental Health, currently the Hon Gail Gago, who is assisting the Minister for Health, is welcome.
Monsignor Cappo's and his Social Inclusion Board have worked hgard on recommendations, yet the bulk of these need to be implemented.
We need to see more action on the front lines, though. A few trials will not address the immense needs, and the growing discomfort in the community about the treatment of people with psychiatric disabilities.
South Australia's record on mental health is particularly poor. It is about time a Government in this State addressed the causes of the problems within the system rather than addressing the symptoms.
Unmet Need
In some form or other Unmet Need effects most people with disabilities. Over the last ten years there has been a change in Government policy here in South Australia. Governments in this State decided to close institutions and encourage people with disabilities to be more active in the community.
The disparity between the funding levels for Disability SA services and the cost of providing services to the growing number of people seeking help and support is getting wider. As a consequence, Unmet Need is growing.
The exact extent of Unmet Need relating to Disability SA and the State's equipment program is a sensitive issue for the State Government. It is recommendable that the newly formed amalgamated Disability SA is putting some effort into getting reliable figures for the sector as a whole. The results of this this important work should be released for public discussion.
The few figures that are in the public arena paint a bleak picture:
- 850 people are still living in "inappropriate institutional accommodation" - the Government has recognised that this group of people needs urgent assistance and has to its credit prioritised them as part of the Disability Framework.
- There are around another 350 people with disabilities under the age of 65 who live in aged care facilities - the figure the State Government uses is between 60 and 65 people. This second figure is the number of people under 55 living in nursing homes. An interesting use of statistics to try to minimise an issue!
- In 2004/05 South Australia commited 5 million dollars per year to this area whilst Tasmania, with a much smaller population, managed to find 8 million dollars and Western Australia, the state closest in population size to South Australia, can afford 17 million dollars. This area of public expenditure became an important issue for the State Government following a demonstration on the steps of Parliament House by people with disabilities and their families on the 13th of September 2005. A new party arose from this strong movement: Dignity for the Disabled. Unfortunately the movement has become quiet again. Even the best advocates burn out.
Fixing unmet need is all about priorities. Is it important enough?
- It is if you can't go to the toilet, can't eat or have a shower.
- It's important enough if your wheelchair keeps breaking down and you can't get another one for eighteen months or your bum is always sore because you can't get a new cushion.
- It's important if you are a parent and you are faced with the prospect of seeing your child institutionalised; or if your child's future is in a metal cage because that is the only way you can keep her safe.
- It's certainly important enough if you have to rely on your young child to provide your personal care! Although the exact number is not known, there are a significant number of children between the ages of six and fifteen who are the principal carers for their parents. Surely it doesn't take too much imagination to think through the implications for both parent and child when a young boy is providing personal care for his mother!
Unmet Need is a major problem and it is only going to get worse unless something is done about it. The current Government did not create the problem they have inherited it from previous Liberal and Labor Governments. The Government does, however, deserve to be judged on its performance. And to date, despite some increases and some re-announced funding the unmet need in the day care sector for school leavers may have been addressed, but people with disabilities still only get a shower once a week.
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