Australians for Mental Health welcomes Labor's major funding pledge for mental health

Australians for Mental Health has expressed its support for a major $1 billion funding commitment from the Australian Labor Party for mental health. 

The money would include funding for Medicare mental health centres, headspace centres and to support more training places for mental health professionals and peer support workers. 

“This is a great announcement from the Labor Party. It shows it’s serious about mental health, and making accessing support affordable for all Australians, especially young people who are disproportionately affected by mental ill-health,” Australians for Mental Health Chief Executive Chris Gambian said. 

Half of the money promised would be directed towards specialist care centres for young people. 

“We are experiencing a mental health crisis in Australia. This funding is a wonderful start but we also need to listen to young people about what they need to be supported. We know solutions will vary from region to region because they face different challenges,” Chris Gambian said. 

“This is such an encouraging announcement, and a major step in the right direction. But we know ensuring affordable and accessible treatment options aren’t the only ingredients in transforming the wellbeing of Australians. 

“We need to ensure a whole-of-government approach to mental health, and we need departments to be held accountable for decisions that affect our mental wellbeing. Legislating a Wellbeing Act would help achieve that.”