Summary of Survey of hearing voices network development questionnaire for Australia mental health presented at international Congress Hearing Voices hosted by Prahran Mission Victoria 21st November 2013.

1. © Keepwell Ltd
Keepwell™ Aust Pty Ltd
Presentation to:
THE WORLD HEARING VOICES CONGRE SS | Journeys to
Understanding – Sharing experience, expertise & wisdom
http://www.hearingvoices2013.org
Summary of Australia wide
survey
‘forming a national hearing
voices network’

2. WHY A SURVEY?
• There is currently no national network of
Australian voice hearers that
Australian’s can join
• A survey of Australian opinion would
add value to this discussion.
• No one had asked people what they
wanted or thought about a national
network in a systematic way before.
• Intervoice & Richmond Fellowship WA
agreed to discuss the formation of a
network at this congress

3. Survey results: the need
 61.67% said “no” or ‘don’t know’ if there
is a HV group in their community
 58.33% said “yes” to the question I
want to see a new Hearing Voices
Group start up in my community

6. Survey results: the resource
 100% of respondents said yes to the
formation of an Australian HVN
 All States and Territories represented
except ACT.
 Over 40% of respondents said ‘yes’ or
‘maybe’ to the question I am interested
to become a board member for the
new organisation and I share my e-
mail contact details here.

7. Survey results: the
graphs…

17. The hearing voices groups I
attend are best described as

18. Survey results
 No dues or fees for membership
 Individuals can join the national network
 Organisations & professionals can be
members

19. Survey results: Board
membership
 The board members are people with
good skills to set up and run an
organisation.
 The board should be at least 50%
voice hearers.
 The board should have members
who have been consumers of mental
health services.
 Non-voice hearers should be board
members and have voting rights

20. Survey results: Board
membership should not be
 ….only be made up of one
representative NGO organisation
from each state or territory.
 Probably not have organisations who
can become members of the board
with voting rights.
 The board should NOT be 100%
voice hearers

21. Survey results: Functions of
the Board...
 Support new groups
 Maintain & develop a national
website
 Develop Australian based literature
 Supply literature

22. Survey results: The main
purposes of the network are
 Helping people recover, who are
distressed by their voices is the
primary purpose of HVNA
 Helping the general public to
understand voices & destigmatise
voices is a purpose
 People who see visions and other
sensory phenomenon are welcome at
a HVNA group/also paranoia groups

23. Survey results: the best ways to
grow the Australian network…
1. Training for facilitators on how to run a
Hearing Voices peer support groups
2. The development of printed information on
how to start a Hearing Voices group in
Australia
3. A national newsletter for HVNA
4. More publications written by Australian's
about their experience of Hearing voices
5. A paid administrator who can run an office
and be there to support growth of the HV
network

25. W.H.O. KEY
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR
SERVICE ORGANISATION
• Limit mental hospitals
• Build community mental health services
• Develop mental health services in
general hospitals
• Integrate Mental health into primary
health care
• Build informal community mental health
services
• Promote self care

26. © Keepwell Ltd
Consultancy, facilitation & training
Keepwell Ltd
www.keepwell.com.au
Facilitated by
Arana Pearson B.A.
(Edutainer)
Tangata arahi ki te ao marama