Abstract

The poor health and premature death of people living with mental health conditions is a national and international scandal. It is a violation of our basic ‘right to the highest attainable standard of health without discrimination’ and our right to ‘the same range, quality and standard of free or affordable health care and programmes as provided to other persons’ (UN CRPD). From a different perspective, the fact that most premature deaths are preventable through equity of access to existing free health services is cause for great optimism. Together, we have an opportunity to mobilise and bring incredible improvement to the health and wellbeing of people living with mental health conditions. But systems resist change; and change requires energy. South Australia shows how collective advocacy can bring structural change locally and be the catalyst for national and international reform.