MENTAL ILLNESS AND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY TREATMENT
28/11/2012
Question asked 27 July 2011
The Hon. K.L. VINCENT (15:14): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the minister representing the minister for mental health questions regarding the treatment of people with mental illness as well as intellectual disability.
Leave granted.
The Hon. K.L. VINCENT: I have been contacted recently by families whose loved ones are tied up in the mental health system but who are not getting appropriate care because of their intellectual disability not being taken into account during treatment. This is a very distressing situation which leads, as you can imagine, to totally ineffective treatment which is frustrating and often cruel to the patient. I have since begun looking into the area of mental health treatment for people who also have an intellectual disability, and I have been alarmed by the lack of specialist care available. My questions to the minister are:
1.What funding is available to deliver mental health care to clients of Community and Home Support SA?
2.What training placements are offered by government-run health institutions to allow registrars to gain expertise in the area of mental health treatment for people with intellectual disability?
3.What checks are done in government-run mental health institutions to ensure that patients with an intellectual disability are being appropriately treated?
4.What information is available to families, carers and people with an intellectual disability about how to get help for mental illness?
5.Will the minister commit to funding the services of at least one full-time psychiatrist to supply services to the clients of Community and Home Support SA?
Question answered 28 November 2012
The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for State/Local Government Relations): The Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse has been advised:
1.Mental health care is available to all members of the community, including those with an intellectual disability on an as needed basis. Where a person has both an intellectual disability and mental health issues, Mental Health staff work collaboratively with Disability Services staff.
2.Psychiatry trainees spend a minimum of five years training to become psychiatrists. The training requirements are set by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists and involve working in a range of accredited posts, including general adult, child and adolescent and various sub-specialties.
3.The needs of all consumers of mental health services are assessed in order to provide services to match their particular needs and develop an appropriate care plan. This care plan guides service delivery and is reviewed regularly. Where possible, significant others are included in assessment and planning.
In addition, mental health services collaborate with other agencies or treatment providers who may be involved with an individual’s care, such as general practitioners, Disability Services and non-government agencies.
Consumers and carers are provided with information about their rights, which includes a range of internal and external avenues to address any concerns.
The establishment of the Community Visitor Scheme, as part of the statutory framework of the Mental Health Act 2009, further protects the rights of all people with mental health issues who are admitted to treatment centres in South Australia. The Community Visitors visit treatment centres and other incorporated or private hospitals to inspect premises and consult with consumers, staff and relevant others to ensure that people with serious mental illness are receiving appropriate care and treatment.
Disability Services participates in case reviews and planning meetings arranged by staff in treatment centres and incorporated and private hospitals in their role of supporting the person with an intellectual disability.
4.People with an intellectual disability and their carers can discuss accessing mental health services with their treating team or general practitioner and information is available at all mental health service sites. Information on how to access mental health services is also available on the SA Health website at www.sahealth.sa.gov.au. For mental health emergencies, the Mental Health Triage Service can be contacted on telephone 13 14 65.
Mental health is one of the issues explored by Disability Services when conducting a needs assessment or person-centred plan/lifestyle review. In developing a response to identified issues, Disability Services discusses with the client and their family or carer what options are available to address the issue and what actions will be taken.
Disability Services also has information sheets about intellectual disability and mental health (Intellectual Disability and Mental Health, Intellectual Disability and Schizophrenia, Intellectual Disability and Anxiety Disorders). These information sheets provide details about the mental health condition (for example, recognising the issue and causes of the condition). They also provide details as to where help can be obtained and resources that might be available to support the person with an intellectual disability and/or their family or carer.
Information sheets are available from the government website at www.sa.gov.au/subject/community+support/disability (under A-Z of disability information sheets and publications section) and are provided to clients where appropriate.
When indicated, Disability Services advises clients and their families or carers that support is available through Medicare. This information is provided both verbally or through the Medicare: getting the most out of it information sheet.
5.Disability Services funds three part-time psychiatrists who provide support to people with both intellectual disability and mental health issues at the Centre for Disability Health. Mental Health Services funds one part-time psychiatrist to work with Disability Services clients aged 8-21 years who have dual disability.
