eMJA: National mental health reform: less talk, more action

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National mental health reform: less talk, more action

Sebastian Rosenberg, Ian B Hickie and John Mendoza

MJA 2009; 190 (4): 193-195

Introduction

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1. Preferential national funding for new organisational models of collaborative practice

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2. National and state funding for early intervention services, with particular emphasis on youth services

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3. Preferential national funding for employment of people with mental disorders

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4. Specific national and state funding initiatives that link accommodation support with clinical services

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5. New national funding methods for sustained e-health information and related clinical services

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6. Independent national reporting of agreed health and social outcomes and health service performance

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Competing interests

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Author details

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References

Abstract

The Council of Australian Governments revitalised national mental health reform in 2006. Unfortunately, evidence-based models of collaborative care have not yet been supported.
Previous attempts at national reform have lacked a strategic vision. We continue to rely on arrangements that are fragmented between different levels of government, poorly resourced community services, and an embattled public hospital sector.
Our persisting unwillingness to record or publicly report key measures of health, social or economic outcomes undermines community confidence in the mental health system.
Six priority areas for urgent national action are proposed and linked to key measures of improved health system performance.
In Australia, we recognise special groups (such as war veterans) and organise and fund services to meet their specific health needs. Such systems could be readily adapted to meet the needs of people with psychosis.

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