Lack of Government Support for Mental Health
Date Published: 21/06/2010
The resignation on Friday of Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's top mental health adviser John Mendoza, chairman of the National Advisory Council on Mental Health, highlights the crisis position for those with mental health conditions in Australia.
The government repeatedly downplays the necessity to fund mental health adequately and fails to see what savings in terms of lives, anguish and money there are to be made by properly funding preventative health care. It seems that if you are not bleeding the situation is not critical enough to warrant funding.
Suicide in Australia is a very serious problem. In fact deaths from suicide in Australia outstrip those on the road. With so many people suffering in private and doing their best to survive, it seems a disgrace that only $175 million of the $7.2 billion federal health budget was earmarked for spending on mental health across the whole of Australia. No wonder Mr Mendoza resigned in frustration.
The Samaritans Crisis Line can be contacted 24/7, 365 days per year on 9381 5555.
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