The Greens candidate for Werriwa Signe Westerberg says funding mental health services must be seen as an investment, not a short-term cost.
“Government myopia on preventative care is creating a flow-on effect for years to come,’’ Mrs Westerberg said.
“Mental health accounts for 13 percent of Australia’s disease burden, yet receives less than 9 percent of all federal health funding and over 80 percent of mental health funding is allocated to supporting those at the high needs end of the spectrum.
“The right level of funding will see more of a focus on health promotion, as well as prevention and early diagnosis of mental ill health before it reaches the high end.”
Ms Westerberg says that mental health care is particularly important in this South West region, where the stresses of high unemployment and underemployment contribute to the problem.
“The Greens are committed to an accessible, universal mental health system, regardless of location or income,” Mrs Westerberg said.
The Greens mental health package provides funding for the Primary Health Networks’ flexible mental health funding pool, the Mental Health Nurse Incentive Program, headspace and Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention Centres, and rural mental health.
The Greens have also committed to establishing an anti-stigma strategy, a national suicide prevention campaign and an overarching supervisory body for mental illness research in Australia.
“The Greens have identified almost $300 million that’s needed across NSW over the next four years to fund these services,” Mrs Westerberg said.
“It’s money not just well-spent, but essential.
“Suicide rates, especially among our young folk, are a national tragedy, and we need to be on the front foot as a society to provide help when it’s needed,” Mrs Westerberg said.
