services

The 2010 Australian of the Year, Professor Pat McGorry, leaves an indelible and important legacy – he has pushed mental health to the forefront of the political agenda and been a passionate and tireless advocate for reform and investment in mental health services.

The Mental Health Council of Australia ( MHCA ) has welcomed ALP mental health commitments announced by Prime Minister Gillard and Health Minister Roxon. “The measures outlined by the Prime Minister today are real steps forward, particularly in relation to increased accountability for mental health services through a national mental health report card, and increased investment in anti-suicide measures”, said David Crosbie, CEO of the Mental Health Council.

Australia’s leading health and mental health organisations will presented a letter to the Rudd Government calling for increased investment in mental health. The letter is the result of increasing concern by the mental health community that the Government’s new health funding announcements may exacerbate key structural barriers to reform in mental health.

State and territory leaders should demonstrate their commitment to mental health reform by allocating at least half the promised new sub-acute care beds to mental health consumers. “As the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission highlighted, mental health is a neglected area of health care and there is a critical demand for more community based beds outside of the hospital system”, said David Crosbie, CEO of the MHCA .

State and territory leaders should demonstrate their commitment to mental health reform by allocating at least half the promised new sub-acute care beds to mental health consumers. “As the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission highlighted, mental health is a neglected area of health care and there is a critical demand for more community based beds outside of the hospital system”, said David Crosbie, CEO of the MHCA .

The Mental Health Council of Australia has welcomed the Government’s announcement today that people experiencing diabetes will be able to opt into a program that can provide more responsive primary care services through their GP s.

The Mental Health Council of Australia has welcomed the Government’s announcement today that people experiencing diabetes will be able to opt into a program that can provide more responsive primary care services through their GP s.

The launch today of the Australian Government’s National Compact: Working Together will help boost the role of the Third Sector and improve social inclusion in Australia. “At its heart, the Compact is not just about organisations and governments, but communities and the way we relate to each other”, David Crosbie, MHCA CEO said.

The launch today of the Australian Government’s National Compact: Working Together will help boost the role of the Third Sector and improve social inclusion in Australia. “At its heart, the Compact is not just about organisations and governments, but communities and the way we relate to each other”, David Crosbie, MHCA CEO said.

More acute mental health beds and more doctors is not the answer to Australia’s mental health needs – it is more community-based beds which will improve mental health outcomes, according to David Crosbie, CEO of the Mental Health Council of Australia. “We have a desperate shortage of community-based residential treatment options for people with a mental illness“, Mr Crosbie said.