Luke Gosling (Solomon, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise in support of this important motion. Mental health is incredibly important to one's physical health, to our quality of life, to relationships and to longevity. Of course, we knew all of this before. Much progress has been made in Australia in recent decades in raising awareness of this vital issue, thanks to medical professionals like my good friend the member for Macarthur, but also so many other advocates, researchers and organisations, like the Black Dog Institute, Lifeline, Beyond Blue and so many others.

Despite our gains in destigmatising mental health, we could do a lot better in suicide prevention in particular, both in society at large and among first responders, like veterans. This is an area of policy on which we on all sides of the chamber can and should always stand together and do whatever it takes to get the right thing done. The black dog doesn't care how you vote; anxiety, depression, schizophrenia and borderline personality disorder don't come in red, blue, green or orange, or green and gold; they don't discriminate along any lines. Just like those fighting physical diseases—which, of course, mental illnesses also are—those struggling with invisible symptoms didn't have a vote on the matter.

The important thing to remember is that social isolation, which can make many of us a bit blue and has done so during these past months, is just another day in the life of those with these conditions. So the effect of the pandemic related isolation has most likely taken a great toll on many at risk—and that means those who are currently experiencing mental ill health and anyone with financial or employment fears and anxieties during this crisis. And we should also remember people in abusive relationships, those who are unemployed, the homeless, casual workers who have gone without support, and exhausted health and essential workers. That's a lot of Australians who are still doing it tough today with an uncertain future ahead. So let's all remember that, as these restrictions hopefully ease, the mental health impacts are still incalculable and largely unknown at this stage. What we do know is that a lot of the economic pain, dislocation, suffering and anxiety is likely yet to come. So it's incredibly important that we raise awareness now. Let's hope for the best and plan for the worst.

I want to acknowledge the important work that mental health practitioners have played during this crisis and will continue to play in Australia's health system. We should also celebrate, acknowledge and honour the work of our doctors, nurses, pharmacists, allied health workers, aged-care workers, disability workers and all of our frontline workers. Like our fireys only months ago, these were the heroes of 2020 who exposed themselves to danger to help others.

The Northern Territory had done its part before COVID-19 by delivering a strategic plan to the sector in August last year and with a new suicide prevention grant scheme opened last month. I would also like to acknowledge the $30 million for a new mental health inpatient facility, to be located in Darwin, that the federal government announced last Friday.

The National Health Reform Agreement will boost funding by $707 million by 2024-25. This is important. But in my electorate something else is important, and that is that the Department of Veterans' Affairs office in Darwin is currently closed. Veterans need all the support possible right now, so I ask the Minister for Veterans' Affairs: why is the Darwin DVA office still closed when the Territory is open?

I'd like to finish with some broader points on the nexus between mental health and social media, which has become even more evident during COVID-19 and isolation. We need to be very aware that social media today is magnifying social divisions, and we must do all that we can to ensure that this is mitigated.

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