$1 billion pledge for mental health services

FREE mental health care under Medicare announced by federal Labor as part of a $1 billion plan to bolster access if re-elected has been welcomed by Labor candidate for Indi and social worker Mitch Bridges. The plan includes: * $225 million for 31 new and upgraded Medicare mental health centres; * More than $200 million for 58 new, upgraded or expanded headspace services; * $500 million for 20 youth specialist care centres for young people with complex needs; and * $90 million for more than 1200 training places for mental health professionals and peer workers. Mr Bridges said this announcement and funding shows that the government is taking early intervention seriously. He said that for too long governments have focused too much on the pointy end of the crisis when it comes to mental health support. "I've seen the value that early intervention to our young people, not only in terms of the cost benefit when you consider the savings that the approach makes in terms of intensive services that can be avoided, but also the impact that we can make as professionals on the trajectory of their lives," Mr Bridges said. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the new network of 20 youth specialist care centres will close another critical service gap in the mental health system, ensuring young people in what mental health experts call “the missing middle”, get the specialist help they need. He said these will aim to fill “the missing middle” service gap which means young people with complex mental health needs, like personality disorders, eating disorders and early psychosis, can get the ongoing and intensive care they need, outside of hospital. "As we expand the range of free services backed by Medicare, the Medicare Mental Health phone line (1800 595 212) and website (medicarementalhealth.gov.au) will help Australians find the free service that is right for them," Mr Albanese said. The prime minister said providing more free, public mental health services for Australians with different levels of need will help to relieve pressure on the subsidised services provided by private psychologists. He said it will take pressure off the Better Access program, support psychologists to work to their full scope of practice and spend more time treating people with moderate and high needs. The Coalition has promised to invest an additional $400 million in youth mental health services, including regional mental health services and a National Centre for Excellence in Youth Mental Health. Data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows that 8.5 million or 43 per cent of the population aged 16-85 years old have experienced a mental illness. Some 4.3 million or 22pc have experienced a mental disorder in the last 12 months.

$1 billion pledge for mental health services

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