This opinion piece appeared in The West Australian on 17 May 2024. It is written by Debbie Childs, CEO at HelpingMinds.
As Australia grapples with a mental health crisis of l unprecedented
proportions, the recent Federal and WA State budgets stand as missed opportunities to adequately address the pressing needs of our communities.
Prime Minister Anthony
Albanese rightly acknowledges that: “We can always do better when it comes to mental health.” Yet, the question looms: why haven’t we seen investments that align with the scale of this crisis?
Australia’s mental health landscape is at a crossroads, with urgent calls for reform echoing from both Federal and State levels. However, amid the clamour for change, a critical oversight persists: the decline in funding for not-for-profit community-managed organisations, despite the crucial role these organisations play in providing early intervention and support services.
This represents not only a missed opportunity but a regression from the commitments made in the past, as evidenced by the mothballing of the WA Mental Health Commission’s funding roadmap 2015-2025, which is particularly concerning, as it reflects a departure from the commitment to prioritise community-led initiatives in mental health funding.
The roadmap, which outlined a plan for increasing funding to community-managed organisations, was intended to address the growing need for early intervention and support services. However, its abandonment signifies a failure to uphold these commitments and a missed opportunity to invest in the long-term wellbeing of our communities.
Reviving funding for CMOs, including initiatives like recovery colleges, is not just a matter of addressing immediate healthcare needs, it is a strategic investment in the future resilience of our communities.
By prioritising early intervention and preventive care, governments can reduce the strain on emergency departments and promote long-term recovery and wellbeing. Moreover, by empowering individuals to take an active role in their mental health, we can foster a more resilient and supportive society for all.
In the latest Federal Budget, the $361 million package for mental health is a step in the right direction, but it falls short of meeting the vast needs of our society. The funding allocated, though broad, fails to delve deeply enough into the systemic changes needed to alter the downward trajectory of mental health in our nation.
One positive aspect of the Budget is the provision for a national low-intensity digital mental health service, a crucial initiative that can facilitate early intervention and support for individuals before their mental health concerns escalate.
Additionally, funding to increase the clinical capacity of Medicare mental health centres and the enhancement of wrap-around care through primary health networks are steps in the right direction.
These initiatives aim to ensure that individuals can access appropriate mental health support tailored to their needs across the continuum of care. However, this is a drop in the ocean to meet the ever-increasing demand.
Despite incremental increases in mental health expenditure, the current investment landscane remains inadequate.
Alarmingly, Federal mental health expenditure as a proportion of total health expenditure has decreased, falling from 8 per cent in 2019-20 to 7 per cent in 2020-21, well below the 13 per cent burden of disease attributed to mental health.
The recommendations put forth by the Productivity Commission in 2020 underscore the urgent need for an additional $2.4 billion per year nationally to drive priority mental health system reforms.
This level of investment is essential to establish a robust foundation for long-term sustainable change.
As we await formal responses and funding announcements to major inquiries such as the disability royal commission and the forthcoming analysis of unmet needs for psychosocial support, it is imperative that governments at all levels prioritise mental health funding and commissioning.
The renegotiation of the national health reform agreement presents a critical opportunity to expand community-based mental health supports and ensure funding security for the sector.
By reinstating funding commitments and investing in community-led initiatives, we can bridge the gap in mental health support and create a more equitable and sustainable mental health system for all Australians.
