Doug PollardFreshly Doug Thursday October 8
This is mental health week, so today Freshly Doug is going to examine gay and lesbian mental health with a range of experts.
We’ve Anne Mitchell, who runs Gay & Lesbian Health Victoria, Paul Morgan, the deputy director of SANE, which campaigns for improved services for, and attitudes towards, people affected by mental illness.
As well as ongoing advocacy for improved services, SANE lobbies on specific issues such as the effect of welfare reform and drug strategies on the lives of people with a mental illness.
And I hope Dr Jonathan Anderson will be able to squeeze a few moments time from his busy schedule to have a chat with us. He tells me that he spends about a third of his time in his GBLTI-focussed general practice dealing with mental health issues.
We’ve been pursuing Leonie Young of beyondblue, but unfortunately she has other commitments today. However, in a recent conversation with campaigner Rob Mitchell, she said that the organisation has now got the message and will be addressing gay issues. Rob joins us later for his take on what, if anything, that means.
The Victorian Minister with responsibility for mental health, Lisa Neville, was likewise very keen to take part in today’s program but unfortunately is otherwise engaged: however, I will be talking to her next week.
As always between 10 and 11 I spend an hour with someone special and today’s guest is someone you may not have heard of but he’s a key public servant in the state, Director, Public Health in the Victorian Department of Human Services Dr Jim Hyde.
There’s important breaking news today: Attorney-General Rob Hulls and Father Frank Brennan are launching the report of the National Huma Rights Consultation. Corey Irlam is going to have a quick read and let us know what’s in it.
Plus we’ve out usual look at the world of theatre with Will Conyers and some new ideas on toilets from the Green Renter.
As always, feel free to join in, 0427 JOY 949. SMS 0427 JOY 949 (repeat). You can also Twitter @freshlydoug.
