MHCA welcomes review into mental health sector

The Mental Health Council of Australia (MHCA) has today welcomed the release of the Terms of Reference for the National Mental Health Commission’s review into the mental health system in Australia.

“There is no doubt in anyone’s mind that the mental health system in Australia is in need of reform. We will focus on ensuring the review has tangible and useful evidence from across the sector, so that the final report leads to real and lasting change,” MHCA CEO Frank Quinlan said today.

“The Terms of Reference rightly identify the need to review spending in the sector, to reduce duplication and address the gaps in services.  But we also know that many areas of mental health have seen significant underinvestment for many years.

“By considering a whole of community approach to mental health, including areas like employment, education, housing and the broader health sector, the review is likely to be far more effective than a review focussed on direct mental health spending alone.

“We will be working with our member organisations and people who use mental health services to ensure the review focusses on making meaningful change across the life cycle of people who experience a mental illness and their carers, not just on how we save money in the short term.

“There have been many reviews of mental health, we will work hard to ensure that this review makes a meaningful difference in the lives of people who experience mental illness, and their carers.”

One in five Australians will experience a mental illness in the next 12 months.

The Terms of Reference for the review of the mental health sector can be found here.