Australians for Mental Health is urging the federal government to appoint a dedicated Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, after new research revealed younger Australians are more likely to report suicidal thoughts, self harm and suicide attempts than older generations.
A landmark study from the University of Melbourne of more than 14,000 Australians has found people aged between 16-25 were more likely than their older counterparts to report suicidal thoughts, self harm and suicide attempts and that those behaviours were emerging earlier in life.
"After a decade of noble efforts to reduce the rates of distress among our young people the problem is getting worse. It is time for a radical overhaul of how we tackle the mental health crisis. That must start with good policy, placed as a top priority at the centre of government," Australians for Mental Health Executive Director Chris Gambian said.
"Mental health is not just about a clinical diagnosis and treatment through the medical system. Keeping Australians mentally well means getting serious about the levers that sit outside the health system, including areas such as employment, housing, education, community and connection.
"If we want to keep out young people well, we must start by listening, and responding, to their needs, whatever those might be.
"By appointing a dedicated Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing who is responsible for co-ordinating whole-of-government action on mental health and wellbeing, the Albanese Government can set itself apart as the first government in the history of Australia to recognise that the prosperity of the nation is directly linked to the mental health and wellbeing of its people," Chris Gambian said.
Australians for Mental Health last month released its own landmark study which found 59% of Australians believe the nation is facing a mental health crisis that needs urgent action, while 76% believe we can fix the crisis with the right approach, investment and leadership.
"We know mental health is influenced by so many different factors, from family dynamics, financial and housing security, relationships and access to services and community connections. With the right leadership, we can turn the tide and stop these extremely concerning trends in their tracks.
"The lives of our young people are literally at stake," Chris Gambian said.
Australians for Mental Health has been consistently calling on the government to take bold action, including:
Passing a Wellbeing Act to embed mental health and wellbeing issues in all policy making;
Appointing a Minister for Mental Health & Wellbeing located in the Prime Minister's department to drive a whole-of-government response to the mental health crisis;
Establishing an independent Mental Health & Wellbeing Commissioner to hold government to account for its performance on mental health.
