Early intervention crucial in mental health revamp

AUSTRALIA’S mental healthcare system will be transformed to focus on prevention and early intervention, including through schools and other government-run services.

Teachers will be encouraged to refer students with mental health problems to a new national network of 15 child-friendly support centres, while Centrelink and the tax office will be part of a pilot program to get help for distressed clients.

Universal mental health screening will also be implemented for new parents as part of the federal government’s record $2.3bn investment to repair the system.

Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention David Coleman said 85-90 per cent of spending was currently on acute care.

With hundreds of thousands of Australians struggling with untreated mental illnesses, he said the app and website would offer direct online care, as well as information about other services.

The government plans to partner with organisations such as Beyond Blue and Lifeline to make the platform a straightforward pathway into the mental health system.

Social workers will also be hired for a $487m phone line that assesses people with mental health problems and refers them to the appropriate care.

“One of the difficulties in the system in the past has been that lack of a joined-up approach,” Mr Coleman said.

“People can be bewildered by the system, it can be very hard to navigate … For many people, if we can act early and help through a digital environment, that will be enough.”

To assist GPs on the frontline, a new diploma of psychiatry will be introduced, plus support for 3400 training places for those wanting to specialise in mental health.

Mr Coleman is now working to strike a mental health agreement with state governments by November.

A key focus in the deal will be a universal follow-up service for about 31,000 Australians who are taken to hospital after a suicide attempt every year.

If you need help, call Lifeline on 131 114 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636.