Post Pandemic Mental Health: Navigating through a new era

The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has had — and will continue to have — significant impacts on Australians. Many people are experiencing loneliness, stress, anxiety and concern for the future.

While initial mental health concerns centred on coronavirus lockdown isolation, apprehension quickly turned towards employment and financial impacts.

Since the pandemic started, Lifeline has had a 25 per cent increase in calls compared to 2019, while Beyond Blue has reported a 40 per cent rise.

As residents of metropolitan Melbourne and Mitchell Shire endure their second coronavirus lockdown from 9 July, mental health experts warn that it won’t be any easier this time around.

The Australian Government is taking action to help Australians whose mental health and wellbeing is being affected by the pandemic, recently providing $48.1 million to support its Mental Health and Wellbeing Pandemic Response Plan.

This investment builds on $500 million allocated to mental health and suicide prevention announced since 30 January, including $64 million for suicide prevention, $74 million for preventative mental health services and a significant proportion of a ‘telehealth package’ to support treatments provided by general practitioners, psychologists, psychiatrists and other mental health professionals.

In this Melbourne Forum event Dr Ruth Vine will examine the government’s coronavirus mental health response and share insights in planning for the post COVID-19 era.

A leading psychiatrist, Dr Vine was appointed to the federal position of Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Mental Health in May. The newly formed position is part of the Chief Medical Officer’s team at the Australian Department of Health.

Dr Vine has three decades of experience as a leader in mental health at state and federal levels. She worked at the Victorian Department of Health as Director of Mental Health from 2003 to 2008 and as Chief Psychiatrist for Victoria from 2009 to 2012. More recently she was Executive Director of North Western Mental Health — Victoria’s largest public mental health service.

Dr Vine’s new role is designed strengthen the coordinated medical and mental health response and decision-making to the COVID-19 pandemic and support the delivery of mental health system reforms.

Please join us for what promises to be an enthralling Melbourne Forum event exploring mental health issues and how we will navigate our way through a post pandemic era.

If you or anyone you know needs support contact Lifeline crisis support on 13 11 14. More information is available at lifeline.org.au or Beyond Blue.org.au.