Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he had taken an ambitious reform plan to the national cabinet that recognised the need for a system that could intervene early to help people before their mental health conditions and suicidal distress worsened.
“The personal toll on the lives of individuals and their families and carers is immense,and also has a profound effect on our society,health and social systems,and economy,” Mr Morrison said.
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The investment is designed to address the “missing middle” service gap for Australians who are too unwell for the general primary care system but not unwell enough to require inpatient hospital services or intensive state-based community care.
About 3000 Australians lose their lives to suicide each year,and it remains the leading cause of death for people between the ages of 15 and 44. One in five Australians experience some form of chronic or episodic mental illness each year.
Last year,the Productivity Commission put the cost to the Australian economy of mental illness and suicide at up to $70 billion a year.
At the heart of the changes is a network of adult mental health treatment centres to improve access to community-based services through eight new Head to Health centres and 24 new satellite centres,and funding for eight existing centres.