Media Releases

Health Minister Roxon’s announcement that the Commonwealth plans to take a more active role in community mental health is welcomed by the Mental Health Council of Australia. “The Minister has highlighted how the current system leads to people with a mental health disorder presenting to hospital in situations when better community mental health could have made a difference. These statements suggest the Minister understands what is actually happening to mental health consumers and their carers”, said David Crosbie, MHCA CEO .

A group of leading national prevention and community health organisations led by the Australian of the Year, Professor Patrick McGorry, is calling on the Prime Minister, premiers and chief ministers to include fundamental principles on prevention, mental and Indigenous health at next week’s Council of Australian Governments meeting. “Unless we see reforms in these areas we will not reduce Australia’s dependence on hospital based care”, Professor McGorry said.

The Mental Health Council of Australia has written to the state premiers urging them to include mental health in any negotiated health reform plan with the Commonwealth. “In recent weeks there has been a great deal of discussion about health reform, but precious little discussion about mental health reform”, said MHCA CEO David Crosbie.

The Mental Health Council of Australia has welcomed the Government’s announcement today that people experiencing diabetes will be able to opt into a program that can provide more responsive primary care services through their GP s.