Mental Health and the Federal Budget

On Tuesday night the Federal Budget was released and one of the big announcements was the Government's investment in the Mental Health Sector.

The Government has said it will provide $2.2 billion over five years as part of a mental health reform package that will try and focus on prevention of mental illness. The package will also aim to provide streamlined services for people with chronic mental illness.

The Department of Health and Ageing released a joint statement from its ministers saying that under the reform "Australians with a mental illness will get the care they need, when they need it".

Under the reform a mental health commission will also be established, a move welcomed by the Mental Health Council of Australia.

“A Mental Health Commission is one of the measures we have long been advocating for and is very significant investment in better accountability and governance in mental health," they said.

Not everyone is pleased with the Government's announcement though. Australian Medical Association President Dr Andrew Pesce said under the reform patients would end up having to pay more to see their GP.

"Devaluing the role of family doctors is a backward step that will seriously fragment medical and mental health care for those people who need it in the community", he said.

At this point it appears there are more positives than negatives to the announcement. Any commitment to funding for the mental health sector can only be a good thing. Especially considering how many Australians have a mental illness such as anxiety and depression.

For More indepth coverage of the announcement visit the links bellow:

Croakey Blog: Overview of the budget’s mental health announcements – and some preliminary reaction

Media Release: Department of Health and Ageing

Media Release: Mental Health Council of Australia

The Australian: Mental health reforms aim for prevention

Lateline: Government Pours $2.2b into Mental Health