Page 145 - Week 02 - Thursday, 25 May 1989
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The Law Reform Commission is due to release a report on guardianship in August as a prelude to legislation that will supplement the Mental Health Ordinance. We will draw on its findings and suggestions and relate them to our circumstances.
The accommodation considerations for mentally ill persons and the effects on individuals and family relationships have been under constant review. Some alternatives to institutional care are in place and others are being developed.
The Mental Health Service, in association with the North Canberra Baptist Church, is planning for a hostel for older clients with psychiatric disorders. The service provides focus teams who work out of health centres to provide individual and family therapy for people with mental illnesses. The service provides direct funding support to the Mental Health Association, Lifeline, the Richmond Fellowship group house program and the Schizophrenia Association.
Schizophrenia is the particular mental illness highlighted today. As with many other mental health conditions, how to prevent members of our community from becoming subjected to this disability is still not known. This Government supports and will encourage all efforts and programs that will help reduce the incidence or recurrence of mental health disabilities in our community.
Finally, Mr Speaker, I would like to announce that today I will be instructing my department to take such action as is necessary to implement a 24-hour crisis centre to deal with matters such as schizophrenia.
POSTPONEMENT OF DISCUSSION OF MATTER OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE
Motion (by Mr Whalan), by leave, agreed to:
That the discussion on the matter of public importance be postponed until after the conclusion of questions without notice.
SELECT COMMITTEE ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CASINO
MR MOORE (10.46): Mr Speaker, I seek leave to amend motion No. 1, private members' business, standing in my name on the notice paper.
MR SPEAKER: Leave is granted.
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