Grassroots action has reshaped mental health in Australia, as a new national advocacy body called Australians for Mental Health has been created by former Australian of the Year, and well respected mental health professional, Professor Patrick McGorry.
The organisation is founded on the premise that the health care system is broken and, accordingly, aims to give a voice to the four million Australians who experience mental illness.
The press release outlined four key actions that they are calling on the Federal and state governments to take:
Give every Australian access to mental health care, when they need it, and for as long as they need it,
Provide every Australian with the same quality standard of care for their mental health as their physical health,
Develop an integrated system that provides humane and effective care for people and is easy to navigate for patients and their families, and
Invest in strongly in prevention and early intervention.
Seeking to encourage government investment in prevention and early intervention, Professor McGorry says long term commitment is the only way to change the health funding across state and federal budgets which currently designate only 5 per cent to mental health.
He also said “we don’t want more money in more of the same, we want a redesigned system as well.”
This sentiment has also been echoed by the National Mental Health Commission. Professor McGorry is also calling for a Productivity Commission review into how the health system does not serve those with mental health problems.
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