Beyondblue rebuff Kennett claims
Beyondblue CEO Dawn O’Neil has distanced the national depression initiative from comments made by its chair Jeff Kennett that he believes heterosexual marriages are better for the mental health of children.
In a veiled attack on same-sex marriage in his Herald Sun column last week, Kennett used his leadership of national depression initiative beyondblue to back up his claims.
“There is no substitute for parents of both genders,” Kennett wrote.
“Happy heterosexual marriages are the best environment for the mental health of children.”
O’Neil said the views expressed were Kennett’s alone and don’t reflect the views of the organisation.
“They are absolutely the views of Jeff Kennett and I can give you a strong assurance that beyondblue continues to be solidly committed to working with the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transsexual and intersex community, particularly to address the high rates of depression and anxiety as a result of discrimination,” O’Neil told the Star Observer.
“The research shows gender isn’t an issue as far as mental health and wellbeing of children is concerned, it’s very much about the quality of the parenting that makes the difference.”
“We absolutely are committed to our work in this area, it’s very important, we understand the discrimination that people from the gay lesbian community experience is a causal factor often for depression and anxiety and we want to do all that we can to remove the discrimination as much as we can.
O’Neil said she would not comment on calls to have Kennett stood down over the remarks.
‘It’s a decision for him and the board not me,” she said.
“I understand some people are not happy with his comments and I would encourage people to contact him and talk to him about that.”
The timing of Kennett’s remarks have placed beyondblue in an awkward position as the organisation has begun to work on GLBTI mental health projects after receiving heavy criticism in the past for inaction.
The organisation has started to call for participants to register to take part in a new online community research forum on depression and anxiety among LGBTI people.
O’Neil said she hoped Kennett’s remarks won’t stop the community from taking part.
“I hope it doesn’t dissuade people and really encourage them to see Jeff has his own views,” she said.
“Beyondblue is clearly committed and want people with a lived experience of discrimination to tell us their stories so we can make sure, when we do roll out these campaigns, it really does reflect the voice of those who have that experience and hopefully as a result of that, we do see a reduction of discrimination.”
INFO: For a link to the research project click HERE
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[…] READ: Beyondblue rebuffs Kennet’s claims […]
@both kinds of politics
There is no them and us, straight people and GLBTI people are part of one society. The high rates of depression and anxiety that GLBTI people experience as a result of discrimination is not acceptable in society. So I care.
Yes, Jeff you continue year after year to confirm that you are a bigot and a bully. Do your organisation ‘beyondblue’ and the people suffering from depression, a huge favour … stand down. Will your ego allow you to do the right thing? Stand down Jeff Kennett!
Write to the beyondblue board and press them to remove Jeff. I haven’t been able to find addys for everyone but here’s the best I can do. And some lovely straight allies have drafted a polite letter for your inspiration http://www.currentaffairs.net.au/draft-letter-to-beyondblue-directors/
Directors
Dawn O’Neil AM – CEO of beyondblue (Director – as of February 15, 2011). Previously CEO of Lifeline Australia and currently a member of the Australian Suicide Prevention Advisory Council (ASPAC) and the National Advisory Council for Mental Health (NACMH). [email protected]
Dr Michael Bonning – Resident Medical Officer at the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital; Chair of the AMA Council of Doctors in Training (CDT); Past President Australian Medical Students Association (2008). Director since 19 August 2008. twitter @michaelbonning
Ms Kate Carnell AO: CEO of the Australian Food and Grocery Council and former CEO of the Australian General Practice Network. Former member of the ACT Parliament including ACT Chief Minister. Director since 19 August 2008. Email AFGC via web http://www.afgc.org.au/contact.html, Telephone:, (02) 6273 1466 Fax:, (02) 6273 1477
The Honourable Morris Iemma: Former member of the New South Wales Parliament including Health Minister and Premier of NSW. Director since 17 August 2010. No info
Mr Tim Marney: Western Australian Under Treasurer and beyondblue Ambassador. Director since 19 August 2008. No info
Associate Professor Brett McDermott: Child and Youth Psychiatrist and Director of the Mater Child and Youth Mental Health Service, Mater Hospital, Brisbane. Director since 26 October 2006. [email protected]
Dr Leanne Rowe AM: Deputy Chancellor Monash University and General Practitioner. Past Chairperson of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, rural medical practitioner for 26 years. Director since 19 August 2008.
Ms Natasha Stott Despoja: Retired Senator and former leader of the Australian Democrats in the Federal Parliament of Australia. Director since 19 August 2008. {I have her private address but I promised not to publish it, so please send any msgs to me at [email protected] and I will forward]
Professor Steven Larkin: A Kungarakany man, has extensive leadership experience in Indigenous organisations, Pro Vice-Chancellor – Indigenous Leadership at Charles Darwin University in Darwin NT. Director since 17 February 2009. [email protected]
Members
I haven’t been able to track addresses for everyone. In those cases I have made some ‘best guesses’ based on standard practice at their workplaces, or a link to an online feedback form.
The Commonwealth of Australia: Represented by Professor Jim Bishop AO – Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health and Ageing. [email protected]
Northern Territory of Australia: Represented by Ms Bronwyn Hendry – Director Mental Health, Department of Health and Community Services. Personal probably [email protected]. au
South Australia: Represented by Dr Margaret Honeyman QSM (NZ) – Chief Psychiatrist, Director Mental Health Policy, Mental Health Unit, SA Health. Email: [email protected]
Tasmania: Represented by Dr John Crawshaw – Chief Executive Officer, Statewide and Mental Health Services. Online feedback form http://www.dhhs.tas.gov.au/contact/contact_us2 direct email unknown but probably [email protected]
Australian Capital Territory: Represented by Dr Peter Norrie – Acting Director of Mental Health, ACT Health. [email protected]
Victoria: Represented by Dr Karleen Edwards – Executive Director, Mental Health, Drugs and Regions, Department of Health. [email protected] v.au
Queensland: Represented by Dr Aaron Groves – Executive Director Mental Health Directorate, Queensland Health. Probably [email protected]
New South Wales: Represented by Dr Richard Matthews – Deputy Director-General, Strategic Development Division, NSW Department of Health. [email protected] personal probably [email protected].n sw.gov.au
Western Australia: Represented by Mr Eddie Bartnik, Commissioner, Mental Health Commission. Via [email protected] .au Try [email protected] a.gov.au
I would also like to see this article as a full page ad in the Herald Sun… not only in a place where the audience is supportive.
Words are certainly a step in the right direction but they remain words unless there is genuine action to back them up. Get rid of Jeff. He has abused his relationship with Beyond Blue and needs to go. Unless of course Jeff is willing to provide a deeply sincere apology, full public retraction of his words and actively demonstrate a complete turn around in his willingness to respect and support the GLBTI parenting community as well as all single/unmarried parents. Jeff? that work for you? How about you become poster boy for the marriage equity movement?
Anytime Greg,
I looked at your blog. For what it’s worth, I was at the time of 9/11 doing some welfare work looking after a 12 year old boy for the Department of Human Services. We both saw the terrible footage to the planes slamming into those great tall buildings, and the boy looked shocked and said, “That pilot should have seen those buildings- he is in so much trouble!”. He could never imagine the concept of that ugly terrorism and why anyone would want to kill all those people.
I do struggle with that footage being candidly shown in-between the advertisements for fast food etc. It is mass murder, and I am sure parents are having this all over again.
Cheers,
Dave
Whilst the causes of depression in the GLBTI community are many and varied, it is the stigma attached to any variation from heterosexuality which is at the route of the majority. Throw away comments such as that made by Mr Kennett are the type which reinforce the ideas that homosexuals are second class and question the validity of our relationships…….all of which are supported by the government. It is not appropriate for Beyond Blue to try and distance themselves from comments made by their chair. They need to hold him accountable as a representative of their organisation.
Ava Gardner said u get the face u deserve at 50
jeff is just an ugly soul
mean spirited and like all bigots
a real coward who uses power and influence to trade in the misery of others to try and deflect from his real agenda
which is to put others down so he can feel good
I would strongly suggest Beyond Blue is Beyond saving if this guy is at the helm
let’s not try and second guess here
if there were proper federal anti discrimination laws WITH TEETH idiots like boof head would never open their mouths
a total coward
this sort of stuff comming out of the mouth of an ex premier is disgraceful and an affront to the office he held
Dave, thank you for putting into words so eloquently what i feel, but don’t have the capacity or talent to verbalise.
Dave, thank you for putting into words so eloquently what i feel, but don’t have the capacity, or talent to verbalise.
Considering beyond blue are trying to instigate a survey into everyday gay and lesbian depression and esteem (finally) this would seem like a time for such old wood to move on from the organisation.
I believe that Jeff Kennett has held Beyond Blue back in regards to GLBTIQ issues (well those that relate to BB) for many years and it is surely time for him to retreat to his nice green leafy house in melbournes east and sit and fester and retire.
[…] Posted by Chris, on September 13th, 2011 Kennett: who cares about the mental health of homos, we need to stop them poofters from marrying […]
He may have his own despicable views, sure, but why are they paying the old bigot a fat salary and giving him a giant platform from which to air them? They can pretend to distance themselves all they want, but Beyond Blue is culpable as long as they continue to associate with Kennett.
Would Jeff Kennett visit the World Trade Centre Memorial and say you single folks raising children are not in the best interest of the children? No. He carefully crafted his message, using his position at Beyond Blue as he said, “My position of the last 11 years at Beyond Blue…..” And what of Jeff Kennett’s own failed Marriage? He wants to talk about ours, should we talk of his?
O’Neil’s comments are welcome but do not demonstrate to me, for one minute, Beyond Blue is serious about Depression. Jeff Kennett is still an Ambassador, as well as Chairman of the Board, and has contradicted claims by O’Neil, as when he spoke he referenced Beyond Blue-what other conclusion can anyone make?
What I would like to see is a published list of all donors, so I can work out which Christian fundamentalist group donor Jeff Kennett was representing, as he certainly was not representing some of the well published research that I have seen. He was not representing Church groups like Anglicare that advertise for the GLBTI community to foster children. Nor was he representing the thousands of youth and welfare workers who are in the GLBTI community, and work with children in need.
What I think Jeff Kennett was representing was the well-established conflicts of interest, that see Beyond Blue acts as a Murdoch tabloid of depression, and not as evidence based. The mixture of political, corporate, and private donors sets it apart from groups such as Therapeutic Guidelines, who write guidelines for Doctors, based on studies and evidence, with leading clinical groups. I am yet to see this sort of rigorous attitude to facts at Beyond Blue. I see a structure that looks like the Australia Institute. Even one of Beyond Blue’s own researchers said they were incredibility neglectful and hurtful, when publishing guidelines on us.
Further, this idea that only married couples have children, is at odds with reality. Penny Wong and thousands of others are not married and have children or are about to have children. In fact visit any hospital and not all married couples are having children. There are over a million de-facto couples, let alone the single mums and dads, and the step-parents. So why does Beyond Blue bash these good people?
There is a pattern here, from likening employing a gay man as employing a paedophile, from not attacking Robert Clarke the Attorney General, who as part of the Victorian Government said homosexuality is a sick disease. Jeff Kennett and his ever growing image of himself need to be removed from Beyond Blue if they are at all serious about depression in my view.
damage is done i think… Beyondblue has lost its credibility… now THATS depressing!