Renewing Shifting minds

Shifting minds: Queensland Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drugs Strategic Plan 2018–2023 sets the direction for a whole-of-government, whole-of-person, and whole-of-community approach to improve the mental health and wellbeing of all Queenslanders, as well as prevent and reduce the impact of mental ill-health, problematic alcohol and other drug use, and suicide.

Shifting minds is supported by two sub-plans:

• Every life: The Queensland Suicide Prevention Plan 2019–2029 and 
• Achieving balance: The Queensland Alcohol and Other Drugs Plan 2022–2027.

Why is Shifting minds being renewed?

As the current Shifting minds reaches completion in 2023, the Queensland Mental Health Commission is working to develop a renewed strategic plan for the next five years.

Renewing Shifting minds will involve a review and renewal of the directions and priority systemic actions and approaches  for the next phase of mental health, alcohol and other drug and suicide prevention reform in Queensland.

At the same time, we are developing phase two of the Every life suicide prevention plan.

Renewal process

Through a robust and participatory development process, the Commission will be informed by input from:

• people with lived experience, carers and peak agencies and representatives
• cross-sector organisations, service providers and government agencies
• current state and national policy directions and funding commitments
• insights from recent inquiries and reviews
• the evaluation of Shifting minds and the review of phase one of Every life
• contemporary data and evidence.

There will be several opportunities for cross-sector and cross-government agencies and organisations to provide input, including through:

• a series of facilitated consultation forums
• a series of targeted meetings with existing networks and groups
• targeted one-on-one conversations with key stakeholders
• a series of public consultation forums, and
• an online consultation paper and survey.
  

Help shape the next phase of system reform

An integrated policy and planning approach is the foundation of Shifting minds. Reform cannot be achieved through any one agency, sector, or tier of government working alone.

Take the opportunity to be a part of developing the next phase of mental health, alcohol and other drug and suicide prevention reform in Queensland.

You can participate in the renewal of Shifting minds by:

1. completing the survey (closed 3 February 2023)
2. attending a community forum 
3. joining the statewide webinar

For further information or any queries, please contact shiftingminds@qmhc.qld.gov.au. 

Community forums

Who should participate?

These sessions are for anybody interested in learning more about the proposed draft vision and priorities for Queensland's renewed mental health, alcohol and other drugs strategic plan.

Consultations so far

People with lived experience, carers, supporters and advocates, cross-sector service providers, specialists, experts, representative organisations and government stakeholders have participated in consultations so far. To date, we have hosted consultations as follows: 

• Brisbane sector consultation - 14 November 2022
• Townsville sector consultation - 29 November 2022
• Gold Coast sector consultation (focus on services and programs for older adults) - 2 December 2022 
• Brisbane lived experience, carers, supporters and advocates consultation - 5 December 2022
• Sector webinar - 12 December 2022
• Sector webinar (focus on rural, regional and remote communities) - 13 December 2022