The Lancet Psychiatry Commission on youth mental health has confirmed what the Coalition has been calling on the Albanese Labor Government to recognise - Australia is facing a mental health crisis, and the Government must urgently ensure there is affordable access to adequate support.
We need a system that focuses on prevention and early intervention, whilst providing comprehensive support for people experiencing severe and complex mental health conditions.
But we cannot get there if the Government continues to turn a blind eye to the urgency of Australia’s mental health needs.
Since coming into government, the Albanese Government has slashed Medicare-subsidised psychology sessions in half, they have abolished the National Mental Health Commission, including the National Suicide Prevention Office, and the Prime Minister refused to meet with the chair of Australia’s mental health peak body.
Shadow Minister for Health and Aged Care, Senator Anne Ruston said that this government clearly does not consider mental health a national priority.
“In Government, the Coalition led the way in delivering this structural reform by investing nearly $3 billion in the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan.
“Mental health must continue to be treated as a national priority, and yet all this government has done since being elected is reduce access to subsidised support for the most vulnerable.
“It is also clear that chronic mental ill-health needs to be treated the same way as other chronic health conditions.
“That is why we joined mental health experts and peak bodies last year in calling out the Albanese Government’s cut to Medicare-subsidised psychology sessions, which ripped away treatment that had been prescribed to 240,000 Australian patients.”
Shadow Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Senator Hollie Hughes said it was “truly disappointing” to see the Albanese government continuing to ignore the plight of millions of Australians that are experiencing significant distress because of a Labor-induced cost of living crisis.
“In the most recent federal budget, this government invested just $362 million in mental health, constituting the lowest investment in the sector since 2018, despite the aftershocks of the pandemic and of Labor’s homegrown inflation making it tougher for Australian households to cope with new financial and societal pressures.
“The sector says it needs $2.4 billion a year to meet present needs, from early signs of mental health issues to severe and pronounced mental illness.
“This government is failing Australians across the board and this most recent report is only a glimpse into one area that is lacking in the much-needed policies and funding it requires to see positive change.”
The Albanese Government must listen to the advice of experts and provide additional support for Australians battling chronic mental ill-health.