NSW: Carr calls for online institute on mental health

AAP General News (Australia)
02-16-2000
NSW: Carr calls for online institute on mental health

SYDNEY, Feb 16 AAP - New South Wales Premier Bob Carr today called for the development
of an online national institute on mental health.

Mr Carr said a national body was needed to develop a national approach to identifying,
treating and preventing mental illness.

He said the institute should be focused not only on depression but also other mental illnesses.

"I'm proposing a virtual institute, linking the key researchers and organisations across
the country so we won't get into a bind whether it's headquartered in Sydney, Melbourne
or Brisbane," Mr Carr told a press club luncheon in Canberra.

"And I ask the commonwealth and the other states to support it."

Mr Carr said he wanted to remove the stigma from mental health problems.

His proposal builds on a plan by former Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett to establish
a national institute on depression.

Depression is expected to be only second to heart disease as the largest cause of a
disability by the year 2020.

AAP jw/sb/rsm/arb

KEYWORD: DEPRESSION CARR

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