Senate Committe Report on Mental Health

April 10 / 2006 by Kevin Marron

A report released the Senate Committee outlines the crisis confronting Australia’s mental health services and recommends that much more funding and dramatic measures are needed than what is already proposed by the Government to tackle this crisis. A “substantial overall increase” in finding has been called for, to support and care for the approximately 60% of Australians with mental illness who go without treatment.

The report reccomends the states should provide the facilities for 300-400 community mental health centres and the Federal Government should establish new Medicare funding for employed or contracted mental health staff in the centres, including psychiatrists, psychologists, general practitioners, psychiatric nurses and social workers.

Other recommendations included:

• The non-government group, the Mental Health Council of Australia, should keep a yearly check on services and spending on mental health by the state and federal governments.
• Fund the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission to monitor abuse and discrimination in the workplace, and by mental disability services.
• Health ministers should consider establishing a national emergency 1800 telephone helpline to provide around-the-clock response services to mental health crises.

For a fill copy of the report, email Akshay on admin@interchagnensw.com.au.