StillTryingContributor
Collectively advocate for ourselves, directly to federal government - can we do it?
I've been reading through these forums and across the internet in general and I think it's fair to say there's pretty good evidence that mental health support for too many is inadequate. For some, it's just not available.
For those of us affected, we're poignantly aware of it. Psychiatrists and psychologist are aware of it. GPs are aware of it. The federal government itself has got to be aware of it in one way or another.
There seems to be token gestures made by government to increase funding or services. Those of us who need the support know that what's available, or has been announced, falls so far short of anything that would make a difference.
I'm sure there's plenty of advocacy groups and professionals lobbying the government for change. But has any substantial change actually occurred? I'm sure there's people who can rattle off funding figures or new services announced, but the truth is it's not making a difference on the ground.
For a long time I've been politely asking my doctor, psychologists and other services if there's anything else available to me, what other options are there to pursue. But there is just a lack of services and funding and it's always a dead end. It's a confusing, limited, patchwork of a system that becomes a burden and a stress to vulnerable people. Vulnerable people that are just trying to hold on, let alone jump through hoops and cough up money they don't have.
I've kind of just sat back waiting for the professionals and experts to drive change because who am I to suggest changes? I've struggled my whole life. I can't count the number of days I couldn't even manage to have a shower, let alone drive national systemic change. But what if us - the people who live it day in day out - collectively, are the experts? What if we all stood up for ourselves and made our voices heard?
My thoughts are a letter writing campaign directly to the Minister for Mental Health and the Minister for Health. If we could get a couple thousand of us to unite and inundate them with our stories of struggle. Make it clear as day how hard it is to get by, navigate the system, and feel let down, ignored and forgotten, over and over again. I'm not talking letters of rage or blame or finger pointing. I mean genuine letters, sharing our stories, detailing our struggles, appealing to the humanity of the people in a position to change things. I don't know how comfortable others would be with this, but even popping a photo of ourselves in the letter (or email), so they can see a name and a face to each story. We're not just statistics and figures.
Letters from carers, family and friends could be just as powerful. It could point out that each case of mental illness doesn't just effect the person. It has radiating consequences that flow on to those around them.
I can't claim to know the motivations of politicians and how they come to make the decisions that they do. I have a feeling a person would need to stow away a fair bit of empathy to get anywhere in politics. But I'd like to believe they're still human, and I want to try and hold on to some hope in humanity.
The letters (or probably emails), could CC in other ministers, media outlets and others to make sure the message is out and not being pushed under the rug. I'm not a user of social media but a hashtag could maybe get the word out there, and that hashtag included in the subject line of each email to make it clear its a collective message.
I know its ambitious. I don't know how many people would have to write in for it to make a difference. I'm guessing it's a lot. I'm sure it's no small task to unite that many people towards the same goal. I'm sure there's people on this forum that don't even agree that I have a point. I was just reading a post on here earlier by someone who said people who committed suicide were no loss to the economy because they probably didnt work and cost the government more money than they generated (which i found very misguided and misinformed - I've nearly always worked despite my struggles, I pay taxes, and its always been so much more difficult for me to do my job than my peers - but hey, we learn to mask and people probably don't even know our struggles.)
I'm just a bit tired of sitting around waiting for something to change. Its kind of hard to make this post because I know how disappointed I'd be if it all just fizzled or someone shot me down. It'll probably be even harder for each and every person to be open and vulnerable in a letter to a government department. I just need to believe that change is possible and there's something that can be done. That there's something we can do from our own seemingly voiceless positions.
I know I've just written a lot, but there's more I can say on all this. I'm hoping to hear from anyone who thinks this idea has any merit.
