The Australian Psychological Society (APS) has resoundingly welcomed the Federal Government's announcement of an $89 million investment in the largest mental health study undertaken in Australia.
APS President Tamara Cavenett said as Australia's largest mental health workforce, psychologists have long advocated for data-driven decision making to improve mental health outcomes, and is calling on the Federal Government to work closely with psychologists on the design and evaluation of this research.
"The Australian Psychological Society has a long standing approach centred around evidence based care, and psychologists are ideally positioned to work with the Government on research which will effectively provide a new baseline for Australia's mental health policies," said Ms Cavenett.
"Psychology is fundamentally informed by science, and the APS welcomes this investment which will provide a mental health check for the Australian community after a challenging time."
"Australians are bearing the brunt of a horrific bushfire season and the devastating effects of COVID-19, and psychologists have been on the frontline of mental health care during this period."
"It would be remiss not to draw on the vast experience of the largest professional mental health workforce in Australia for one of Australia's most comprehensive studies of mental health."
In response to the final report from the Productivity Commission's Inquiry into Mental Health, the APS called on the Government to seize the opportunity to create generational reform for the nation's mental health services.
"The Productivity Commission report into Mental Health was a defining moment for mental health reform in Australia. It called for a whole-of-government mental health strategy and a research initiative of this magnitude tangibly supports those recommendations," said Ms Cavenett.
"The APS congratulates Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt, Christine Morgan and the National Mental Health Commission on their stewardship of this important work."
