Queensland Health has announced two new plans dealing with mental health, alcohol and other drug services.
Released to coincide with the recent Queensland Mental Health Week were Achieving Balance: The Queensland Alcohol and Other Drugs Plan 2022-2027 and the Better Care Together – a plan for Queensland’s State-Funded Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drug Services to 2027.
Minister for Health and Ambulance Services, Yvette D’Ath said the Better Care Together plan followed a Parliamentary inquiry that identified how to improve mental health outcomes.
“Better Care Together will take forward many of the key recommendations of the inquiry which the Government has committed to delivering,” Ms D’Ath said.
“It will guide expanded services across the continuum and lifespan and more comprehensive treatment, harm reduction, care and support across our hospitals and community.”
She said Better Care Together also had a strong focus on addressing the health inequities experienced by First Nations peoples and communities through the development and delivery of culturally safe and capable treatment, care and support.
“It was developed based in consultation with more than 500 stakeholders across our Hospital and Health Services, peak bodies, non-Government organisations and people with lived experience,” Ms D’Ath said.
She said Achieving Balance was a whole-of-Government plan developed by the Queensland Mental Health Commission to reduce alcohol and other drug-related harm and improve outcomes for individuals and families impacted by substance use.
“Achieving Balance represents a new era in the State’s response to problematic alcohol and other drug use, with a commitment to reducing individual, family, social and economic impacts,” the Minister said.
For further information, Better Care Together can be accessed at this PS News link and the Achieving Balance at this link.
