The Regional Plan identifies significant opportunities for service and system improvement across three discrete and complementary areas of work – mental health, suicide prevention and alcohol and other drug treatment services.
Development and implementation of the Regional Plan is a requirement under The Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan [1], and aligns with the intent of the National Drug Strategy [2]
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- The Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan specifically tasks PHNs and HHSs with ‘developing joint, single regional mental health and suicide prevention plans and commissioning services according to those plans’.
- The National Drug Strategy provides a guide for jurisdictions in developing their individual responses to local alcohol and other drug issues, with the expectation that each jurisdiction will develop their own action plan detailing local priorities and activities to be progressed.
Together, Brisbane North PHN (the PHN) and Metro North Hospital and Health Service (the HHS), as co-sponsors of the Regional Plan, worked with an extensive group of stakeholders to develop a shared vision, priorities, objectives and actions, and collectively, these form Planning for Wellbeing – a joint regional plan for mental health, suicide prevention and alcohol and other drug services.
The Regional Plan endorses the vision statement articulated by the Queensland Mental Health Commission’s Strategic Plan – Shifting Minds [3]
A fair and inclusive Queensland where all people can achieve positive mental health and wellbeing and live lives with meaning and purpose.
Guided by the vision, the Regional Plan sets out ten long-term outcomes, as well as five key principles that have underpinned its development and continue to guide its implementation.
[1] Council of Australian Governments – Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan
[2] Australian Government Department of Health – National Drug Strategy