News And Events

Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health welcomes the Coalition’s announcement of $192 million for mental health and suicide prevention programs.

Given the generally modest new commitments made in this election campaign, for mental health to be the beneficiary of half of the Coalition’s new funding announced yesterday reflects in the best way possible the Prime Minister’s genuine personal commitment to this vital healthcare field. We especially wish to acknowledge his direct involvement and efforts to deliver this positive outcome.

In particular, we welcome the renewed commitment to long-term funding for the six hYEPP early psychosis services, as well as Australia’s 100 headspace centres. We also welcome the commitment to expand the system with 10 new headspace centres. This means that young people and their families will have growing access to evidence-based care in their local communities through trusted and visible brands and facilities. The Primary Health Network (PHN) model of commissioning will ensure that this is tailored much more sensitively to local needs and better linked with other agencies. The Coalition’s announcement aligns well with earlier commitments from the ALP and the Greens to safeguarding the headspace model and the new early psychosis services.

Professor Patrick McGorry AO, Executive Director of Orygen says, ‘I am encouraged to see all political parties addressing mental illness and suicide prevention, serious health issues that affect 4 million Australians and have a devastating impact on the lives of so many people, and on the national economy. I am particularly heartened to see bipartisan support for Australia’s crucial youth mental health reforms, which have saved many lives and futures already, are internationally recognised and have been widely replicated around the world.’

‘By reconfirming support for headspace as the preferred model of youth mental health service, and supporting the expansion of these services with specialised backup psychosis care, both major parties are making important steps to improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of young Australians. There is now the chance to improve further on these visible and trusted models of care and extend them to the whole Australian community.’

‘I want to thank the Australian community, key sections of the Australian media, our political champions on all sides of politics, the Prime Minister, Mr. Shorten, Senator Di Natale and Senator Xenophon, all of whom have been consistent and genuine supporters of youth mental health.’
 
Key points of the Coalition’s $192 million mental health plan include:

• Funding for 12 regional suicide prevention trials in line with recommendations from the National Mental Health Commission review

• $12 million for a Suicide Prevention Research Fund

• The establishment of 10 Primary Health Network lead sites to champion mental health reform

• A guarantee of existing headspace funding in the long term and $20 million for 10 new headspace centres

• The continuation of current funding levels for headspace early psychosis services (hYEPP) until at least 2019 and subject to evaluation beyond this point

• $30 million for e-mental health and other digital mental health services

• $10 million to expand regional trials of Project Synergy

• $2.5 million for a Lifeline crisis text service

Key points of the Labor’s $83.7 million mental health plan include:

• Funding 12 regional suicide prevention trials in line with recommendations from the National Mental Health Commission review

• $9 million for a Suicide Prevention Research Fund

• Continue existing funding for headspace early psychosis services (hYEPP) and existing headspace centres

• Development of a Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan

• Promote the Mentally Health Workplace Alliance to support better mental health at work

Key points of the Green’s $1.4 billion mental health plan include:

• Additional $400 million for the Primary Health Networks’ flexible mental health funding pool

• $280 million for the Mental Health Nurse Incentive Program

• Continuation of funding for headspace and early psychosis (hYEPP) programs for two years

• Further investigation of integrating headspace National Office with Orygen, The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, in line with the National Mental Health Commission’s recommendation

• $280 million for rural and regional mental health programs

• $38.3 million for a National Suicide Campaign

• $150 million to establish a supervisory body for mental health research