MORE DAY-TO-DAY SUPPORT FOR LOCAL PEOPLE WITH MENTAL ILLNESS

Tuesday, 20 December 2011

People living with severe and persistent mental illness in Rockingham, Kwinana and Mandurah will receive ongoing day-to-day support to stay connected to their community with more than $1.4 million ($1,445,269.83) in federal funding for the June O’Connor Centre - Peel and Rockingham Region. 

“The June O’Connor Centre has been delivering the Support for Day to Day Living in the Community (D2DL) program for the last four years and $1.4-million will ensure the program can continue for the next three years,” local member of Federal Parliament Gary Gray said.

“The program helps people develop skills to prevent them from becoming isolated. It is a program that delivers structured personal and social support to people living with a mental illness through arts and crafts workshops, cooking lessons, shopping trips and other social outings.

“I would also like to highlight the terrific job being done by Rockingham coordinator Vicki Steel and her team who are volunteering their time to host a brunch for those who don’t have family members to share Christmas Day with. 

“People with a severe mental illness can face significant challenges reconnecting to their community both during and after recovery.

“These Australians are often socially isolated, have low levels of support or are so affected by mental illness that they find it hard to function independently in the community.

June O’Connor Centre CEO Wyn Williams welcomed the funding boost saying it would continue to help people recover and stay well in the community.

“Meaningful activity and social connection are critical to people’s recovery from mental illness and Day to Day Living is proven to work, already helping many people to begin their recovery journey. 

 “The extra funding will provide more people with severe mental illness with a friendly environment to help them face the challenge of reengaging in social activities and developing other important life skills, such as cooking, and build their confidence,” Mr Williams said.

Across Australia, the Gillard Labor Government is currently providing around 11,000 Australians living with a mental illness with structured personal and social support through the D2DL program.

Since 2006, more than $45 million has been invested in Day to Day Living.

The additional investment which rolls out from January 2012 will mean an extra 3,650 people each year will be able to access structured personal and social support.

The Gillard Labor Government is reforming the mental health system to ensure that people living with a mental illness get appropriate care and support.