The Postal Vote Is So Hurtful The Victorian Govt Is Increasing Mental Health Funding

The Victorian government just acknowledged the massive toll the marriage equality postal survey is taking on LGBTQI+ Australians by increasing funding to mental health and support services by a cool $500,000.

We’ll file this one under “further hard proof that this postal survey is doing profound damage to LGBTQI+ people, just as they have been saying it would for years while the government ignored them”.

Victorian Minister for Equality Martin Foley announced the funding increase earlier today, describing it as an important step to support the increased numbers of LGBTQI+ Australians seeking support at this time.

“We’ve seen more members of the LGBTI community than ever before reach out for help – so we have a responsibility to ensure support is there when people need it,” he said in a release.

“No one wanted this hurtful postal survey – but our message to LGBTI Victorians is we are standing by you during this difficult time.”

Foley also acknowledged the vital work of mental health support staff and volunteers.

The funding increase will be distributed through the Victorian Aids Council and Drummond Street Services, two organisations that provide a range of mental health and support services, including many targeted at LGBTQI+ Australians. In addition, the government has opened the next round of HEY (Healthy Equal Youth) grants, with $100,000 up for grabs for organisations that support young LGBTQI+ people.

The funding increase comes a day after five of Australia’s leading mental health organisations announced their support for the Yes campaign on the grounds that passing marriage equality could avert up to 3,000 youth suicide attempts every year. Earlier this week, mental health organisations expressed concern about a huge spike in demand for support since the postal survey began. And yet, we’re still seeing reports of straight people saying things aren’t that bad.

It’s nice to see an arm of government taking the threat to LGBTQI+ people’s mental health seriously at this time. It’s just a pity the federal government didn’t get the memo and avoid this whole disaster in the first place.

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If you’d like to talk to someone after reading this (or at any point during the marriage equality campaign), QLife is a national counselling service for LGBTQI+ people, which operates between 3pm and midnight AEST every day. You can get in touch with them by calling 1800 184 527, or visiting their website if you’d prefer or require a text-based chat.

Read about your other options here.