The Budget commitment includes creating a landmark national network including up to 57 additional mental health treatment sites for adults. It will also fund more centres for youth and children through the Head to Health and headspace programs.
The Plan builds on the government’s significant existing investment in mental health services for Australians throughout the 2019-20 bushfires and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
It brings the government’s total estimated mental health spend to $6.3 billion in 2021-22.
The Plan is based on five key pillars:
- prevention and early intervention
- suicide prevention
- treatment
- supporting the vulnerable
- workforce and governance.
The Plan will transform mental health care in Australia by:
- building a world-class Head to Health digital gateway for Australian dealing with mental health issues
- ensuring our mental health and suicide prevention system reaches Australians where they work, learn and live
- enhancing mental health in primary care
- establishing a network of mental health centres for adults, young people and children through the Head to Health and headspace programs
- building a system that is efficient, joined up, easy to navigate and people-focused
- providing appropriate, ongoing follow-up care to every Australian discharged from hospital after a suicide attempt.
This $2.3 billion investment is the first phase of the response to the findings of the Productivity Commission’s Inquiry into Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Adviser’s Final Report.
You can find detailed information about Health’s mental health and suicide prevention measures in the Minister’s media release and Budget fact sheets.
