Steps forward for digital mental health
This morning the Minister for Health and Aged Care, the Hon Mark Butler MP announced an investment of $456.7 million over five years to continue and extend funding for national crisis and support services, including Lifeline and its 13YARN service for First Nations Australians, Beyond Blue and Kids Helpline.
This is welcome news, as the Australian community will benefit from ongoing access to digital mental health services and supports that provide a crucial means for individuals to address and manage mental health issues.
We are also pleased about the announcement of a sector-led consortium to develop a new national approach to help people navigate digital services – not only because it is a step in the right direction in improving access to digital mental health supports, but also because it leverages existing supports and services that people in Australia already trust, and it shows that the government values and trusts the work of the mental health sector. In addition, Minister Butler also announced a $3.5 million investment to strengthen the headspace model, which is a good step forward, given the crisis in youth mental health– but we know that more options are needed for people with complex needs.
With the announcement of these initial measures, Mental Health Australia calls on the government to also address the wider gap in mental health supports by leveraging existing infrastructure to deliver multidisciplinary, wrap-around supports that responds to community needs.
This afternoon Minister Butler joined Mental Health Australia and over 65 of our members online to give an update on the funding announcements and how the government and Department will be working with us closely in 2024 on mental health reform.
“What I’m trying to do as the Minister, is to recognise that there are a very wide range of different levels of need. And what we want to build in Australia is a stepped model – a staged model of care that ensures that there is a level of support for all Australians no matter what their level of need,” Minister Butler said.
Members asked the Minister a range of questions, including about implementing the recommendations from the Productivity Commission, the NDIS Review, and investment in community-managed mental health programs.
Minister Butler said, “In the mental health area more broadly, can I say that the role of community based mental health services is utterly critical. Whether the programs are big national programs or some quite grass-roots designed, it is such an important part of the sector and one I want to see retained and harnessed and really, really supported.”
We are looking forward to continuing to work closely with both Minister Butler and Minister McBride, and the sector, on mental health reforms.
Thank you to everyone for supporting the work of Mental Health Australia and our 137 member organisations this year. Collectively we have a strong resolve to head into 2024 even stronger than ever with a united voice to create real change for people with mental ill-health, and their families, carers and supporters.
This will be our last newsletter of the year – we will back in your inboxes on 2 February 2024.
Carolyn Nikoloski CEO, Mental Health Australia
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