Category: Director’s Reports

Reform of the nation’s mental health system has been proclaimed as a core policy of both our political parties. The Liberal Party has promised “significant structural reform of the mental health system”, while the Labor Party has sign-posted “making mental health a national priority” and set a target of program delivery in its first 100 […]

I am deeply disturbed on advice given to governments and the media laid down in Mindframe guidelines on how they report suicide/mental illness. The Mindframe guidelines are managed by the Hunter Institute of Mental Health and funded by the Australian Government under the National Suicide Prevention Program. (See link below). In recent years extensive coverage […]

Despite the efforts of many committed politicians, government officials, service providers and community advocates, we do not have a system of effective or accessible mental health care. At all levels of government, within some of the professions and out in the wider community, there is a perception of general apathy, lack of accountability and lack […]

Coordinated programs to provide treatment and support is vital for people with long-term mental illnesses and suicidal tendencies. Sadly, in many cases this is not happening. Mental illness is a debilitating disorder that can have fatal consequences. It is a myth that people take their lives because of social reasons, such as stress, job loss, […]

White Wreath Association would not be able to continue without the support of it members and the general public in their generous financial contributions. In spite of the tough economic conditions during the past year, your support has been unstinting. We are more than grateful for your commitment and valued financial assistance as we edge […]

“Sock It To Suicide Week” held during the third full week in October (20 – 14 October) is one of the most important fund-raising activities conducted by White Wreath Association. It is a vital to promoting White Wreath in the broader community and speading the message of White Wreath’s continuing campaign to educate and spread […]

Recent media coverage on alcohol-fueled violence and the response by various governments to introduce tough new laws is once again misleading public to the real cause – mental illness. The person who king-hit, cowardly punched and killed a young boy in NSW has a long history of violence with serious mental health problems; in and […]

DIRECTORS REPORT The mental health policies of Australian federal governments, of both political persuasions, can only be described as abysmal. Successive governments have announced reforms to the mental health system, promising radical changes. Unfortunately, the end result seems to have achieved little. Politicians and mental health practitioners seem not to listen to the views of […]

THE WAY AHEAD Providing information to members is vital to White Wreath achieving its primary objectives. White Wreath’s main aim is to raise funds to establish Safehaven Centres for those who need urgent mental health treatment and ongoing care. Equally important to this is: Provide Advocacy and support to the sufferers of mental illness and […]

  DIRECTORS REPORT Drawing on the experiences of people who have gone through the trauma of a suicide can help us cope if we are ever faced with a similar situation. The tragic after-affects of suicide has an influence on all of us. The death of a loved-one, family member, friend, colleague or casual acquaintance […]