Mental Health Victoria welcomes the release of the Productivity Commission (PC)'s draft report on mental health reform and congratulates Professor Stephen King and fellow Commissioners for a truly impressive set of recommendations that, if implemented, will improve the lives of millions of Australians living with mental illness.
Mental Health Victoria Chief Executive Angus Clelland said that the release of the Productivity Commission's report represents a watershed moment for mental health reform and transformation of a system that is fragmented, complex and incomplete.
"We are particularly impressed with the report's emphasis on governance reform, prevention and early intervention, schools, access for people in regional and remote areas, and the social determinants of mental health including housing, justice and employment," he said.
Mr Clelland said that Mental Health Victoria strongly supports the PC's recommendation that the federal, state and territory governments should reconfigure the mental health system to give all Australians access to timely and culturally appropriate mental healthcare, at a level of care that most suits their treatment needs.
"Fixing mental health will provide enormous personal and economic benefits to all Australians. The PC has mapped out what needs to be done; we now need all governments to commit to the reforms," Mr Clelland said.
"This will save lives".
"The PC inquiry, the Federal Government's Long Term National Health Plan commitment to delivering the world's best mental health system, and the Victorian Government's leadership through the historic Royal Commission all point to a once in a generation opportunity to get it right. Now is the time to act".
Mental Health Victoria strongly supports the PC's call for reform of mental health governance arrangements between all levels of government and for the expansion of the role of the National Mental Health Commission.
