Expanding access to psychologists for people with early signs of mental illness is a critical investment in the health of Australians which will drive down mental health costs in the long term.
Australian Psychological Society (APS) President Ros Knight said a report in The Age today claiming expanded access to psychologists will cost up to $2 billion to implement and could be better spent elsewhere is misguided.
She said evidence shows investing now in prevention will reduce the rate of mental health problems and produce long term cost savings and better outcomes for the community.
Ms Knight said it has been shown mental ill-health has an impact on people’s productivity and their ability to contribute to society, and the implications are far reaching.
Mental illness is estimated to cost $60 billion annually in Australia. “Given such high costs, preventing the onset of mental disorders would result in massive savings,” said Ms Knight.
The Medicare review’s mental health reference group has recommended introducing a new item number for preventative therapy sessions with psychologists. Ms Knight said the new suggestion of preventative sessions was critical.
“Allowing people to access mental health care means issues will be addressed early before they become ingrained and cause wider social issues,” said Ms Knight. “Early intervention is a cheaper intervention. It is an investment in the health of Australians and the broader health and productivity of society.”
The APS said it is opposed to anyone restricting access to psychological services on the basis of cost to government given the cost to individuals, families and workplaces in lost productivity.
A 2018 report by KPMG and Mental Health Australia examining the economic benefits for Australia of investment in mental health reform, states that there are significant long term cost gains to be made particularly when targeted interventions are applied early in a person’s life.
“Evidence shows that for people at risk of mental illness, having access to treatment early can help. Preventing mental illness is both achievable and cost effective,” said Ms Knight.
