The Hodgman Liberal Government strongly supports community-based mental health services, which play an integral role in our mental health system.
We acknowledge the important role these organisations and consumers are playing in helping us to build a better mental health system, including through the Mental Health Integration Taskforce chaired by the Chief Psychiatrist.
The representations they have made are in line with the Rethink Mental Health plan, which has unanimous support and is being implemented now.
Contemporary mental health practice puts an emphasis on community-based mental health supports to ensure people can recover in more comfortable and familiar settings, closer to their families and their communities, and to improve their chances of avoiding hospitalisation.
The work of the Taskforce will be crucial in guiding our actions to improve the integration of mental health services, including in primary and/or community-based settings. The Taskforce includes key mental health stakeholders and features GP representation.
Over the past four years, we have provided millions of dollars in additional funding for mental health, boosting support for child and adolescent mental health and opening more community-based mental health beds.
Our $95 million mental health plan will provide 25 new community-based mental health beds to support the RHH, and provide new adolescent units in Launceston and Hobart. We are also providing a $3.3 million boost to the community sector to support better health in our communities.
We will continue to engage constructively with the Mental Health Council of Tasmania and other stakeholders to ensure we are providing the right care in the right place at the right time.
