Mental Health Australia Position Statement - Housing and mental health

Mental Health Australia in consultation with our members is proud to release the following position statement on housing and mental health, which will form the basis of our advocacy in this area. Mental Health Australia members and stakeholders are also encouraged to use this material for your own advocacy activities.

Appropriate housing is the absolute foundation for mental health recovery. However, as outlined in the Trajectories research by Mind and the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI), many people with lived experience of mental ill-health do not have access to safe, secure, appropriate and affordable housing.

Mental Health Australia partnered with Mind and AHURI to develop policy priorities for reform based on this research, through consultation with people with lived experience and other key experts. The policy priorities identified formed the basis of a position statement, which was further developed through a Mental Health Australia Members Policy Hub attended by over 30 people representing 21 organisations.

Our ambition is that this succinct, agreed position statement on housing and mental health will be used to drive reform, to ensure every person with lived experience of mental ill-health has access to appropriate housing.