By Mikayla van Loon
The community of Casey has identified the most pressing social justice issues it believes needs to be addressed in an Australian first report produced by The Salvation Army.
Data compiled in the National Social Justice Stocktake Report (NSJSR) showed the overwhelming percentage of people who have witnessed or experienced mental health concerns in the electorate of Casey.
While 67 per cent of respondents in Casey listed mental health as the top priority, which was 10 per cent higher than the state, social isolation and loneliness was within the top five, something that was not identified for Victoria or the nation.
The Salvation Army’s head of public relations Bruce Harmer said the pandemic had quite a large influence on the social issues people felt needed more support in a post-pandemic world.
“Our experience with Covid has been that many people felt socially isolated and disconnected from society, there’s no doubt about that,” he said.
“Along with the increase of mental health issues, the stigma around speaking about mental health seemed to evaporate to a degree.
“People were more willing to share how they were feeling, something that was translated in the number of people that see it as the highest issue in Casey.”
Housing affordability (55.3 per cent), followed by family violence and drug and alcohol abuse (both 37.9 percent) rounded out the top five concerns, something Mr Harmer said all fit within the space of mental health stressors.
“Covid brought to the attention of the vast majority of people that episodes of mental health can occur to anyone, at any time, whether it be in relation to losing a job, social isolation or maybe housing affordability and we see that rating very highly also in the electorate of Casey.”
Mr Harmer said these social issues were all systemic elements within society before the pandemic but the report reveals the exacerbation and also the willingness to talk about these worries because of the pandemic.
“Our society seems to be opening up and having a newfound willingness to discuss these things openly.
“When the Salvation Army came into each of the electorates right across the country and asked the constituents what are the top social issues from your perspective, it gave them an opportunity to sit and reflect.
“They are certainly social issues that need addressing, but…we’re on the right road to addressing them if we’re prepared to talk about them.”
By releasing the report, Mr Harmer said The Salvation Army hopes it draws attention to the key issues facing residents within electorates like Casey as it comes closer to a federal election.
“We want politicians, we want those who are running for public office, along with education, along with transport, along with health, we want them to think a little deeper about the social justice issues that are prevalent in our community and we want them to begin the conversation.”
Mr Harmer said the report and research will also instruct The Salvation Army in how best to engage and provide support in the Casey community moving forward.
“For the Salvation Army, it underlines and confirms for us that these social issues are worth pursuing because other people in the community also see them as issues that need to be addressed.”
To view the report by nation, state or electorate go to www.salvationarmy.org.au/socialjusticestocktake
