Chairman of the Mental Health Foundation of Australia, Professor Graham Burrows AO KCSJ,  has once again expressed his concern and disappointment that mental health did not rate a mention in the 2010 Budget.  

His column, reproduced below, was published in the Herald Sun on May 13th.

Let's invest in mental health now

Failure to invest funds for mental health in Australia is short sighted.  By not addressing the problems of the nearly six million Australians who directly experience mental illness and the twelve million others who care for them, we are creating a problem which will cost Australian taxpayers more in the longer term, a burden at least four times greater than the cost of providing effective services now.  These costs will multiply the already huge expenses for hospitals, community health and welfare services, police, ambulance, pensions and sickness benefits, not to mention the effects of family breakdown, social isolation and trauma.

We know that advocacy for mental health in our community is widespread. Far from being an issue which does not hold votes as suggested by this budget, Mental Health should be a vote winner.

Most Australians have a direct experience of mental health issues. All physical health problems have a related mental health component. Anyone going through the pain of family conflict will experience stress, anxiety and depression, often leading to some of the worst abuse of children including death. 

Advocacy needs to extend to addressing the issues of suicide, drug and alcohol abuse across our population, including our young people, and sporting stars who may experience mental health problems leading to drug use, gambling, addictions and other mental health problems.

We need to ensure there are adequate services for people who need them and when they need them:  mobile assessment and support teams for people in crisis;  more doctors in mental health; adequate hospital beds and community services for people seeking treatment; adequate support services for the families of people who have mental health issues but because of the symptoms deny there is a problem,  often creating ripple effects of sadness, grief, anger and frustration for the family;  services to meet the real needs of rural communities within the communities rather than having to travel often hundreds of kilometres for care and treatment.  All of these services need to be available when they are needed, not in 3 months - the time most people today have to wait for acute services.

By assisting people to address problems before they become illnesses we will save significant expense in the longer term in treatment and recovery processes. 

One in seven children have a mental health problem but only one in four of these receive treatment services. The child and adolescent mental health services have large waiting lists and few services are available. These services need an immediate and effective response.

Investing effectively in community awareness programs for promotion of resilience, positive mental health and wellbeing for children will bring long term positive social and financial rewards for Australia.  By ensuring children, our most precious resource have good tools to assist with their future wellbeing, we are protecting Australia’s future – these children are our future leaders and workers.
 
Parliamentarians from all side of politics know what the problems are. They are aware of the benefits of long term investment but are drawn to short term positive electoral outcomes. They need to “bite the bullet” for the millions of carers and sufferers and commit to ensuring services are provided where and when needed.  The present government has progressed the process towards better mental health services – but just hasn’t gone far enough!

• Emergency Help
• Explore
• News and Media
  • MHFA News
  • MHFA Press Releases
  • Fight Stigma
  • Mental Health Research News
• Mental Health Week