Mental health report card
November 28, 2012
AUSTRALIA leads the world in
progressive mental health policy,
but it falls down in delivery, according
to the findings of the nation’s very
first National Report Card into Mental
Health and Suicide Prevention.
Undertaken by the National
Mental Health Commission (NMHC),
the report card took into account
the advice and input of those with
lived experience, their families
and supporters, government,
private and non-government
service providers, industry
leaders and academics.
The report card includes ten
recommendations which go to the
heart of where “real action” is needed.
These recommendations include:
a regular independent survey of
peoples experiences and access to
all mental health services (which
the NMHC has committed to
undertake); and increased access to
timely and appropriate mental
health services and support from 6-
8% to 12% of the population.
In addition, the NMRC
recommends a reduction of
involuntary practices and the
miminisation and elimination of the
use of seclusion and restraint; as
well as making the mental health of
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
peoples a higher priority; and that
all Governments set targets and
work together to reduce early
death and improve the physical
health of people with mental illness.
Other recommendations include
the stipulation that there must be
the same national commitment to
safety and quality of care
for mental health services
as there is for general health
services; and that there be a
stoppage in the practice of
discharging people from mental
health services into homelessness
or unstable homes.
The Government, according to
the report card, should also work
to increase the employment rates
of people with mental illness and
paygreater attention to supporting
them at work; and should increase
access to home based visiting to
support families and children.
Final recommendations included
an investment in healthy families
and communities to increase
resilience and reduce the longer
term need for crisis services; and
the provision of timely local
responses and reporting to prevent
and reduce suicides, and support
those who attempt suicide.
“We couldn’t address every issue
everyone raised with us, but we
believe that the community,
service providers and governments
need to commit to some ambitious
but achievable goals in a range of
areas,” said Professor Allan Fels,
Chair of the NMHC.
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