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Access to quality mental healthcare remains a significant challenge for many Australians. While there have been efforts to improve access in recent years, the reality is that many individuals, especially in rural and remote areas, continue to struggle to get the help they need.

In what is a hopeful step towards addressing the mental health crisis, Health and Mental Health Ministers convened in Sydney recently to discuss key issues affecting the nation's mental healthcare system. The meeting followed an initial discussion back in April 2024 which was triggered by the Bondi Junction Westfield incident and aimed to explore options for further reform and improve collaboration between jurisdictions.

As part of the session, 80 mental health organisations joined forces to deliver a joint statement of priority actions and next steps to implement immediately to improve access to mental health supports.

Their suggested actions include increased funding for mental health services, improving workforce development, and enhancing access to care for young people.

They also highlighted the alarming rise in mental health conditions among young people and the significant gap in community-based support. These factors are placing an unsustainable burden on primary and acute care services, leading to longer wait times and poorer outcomes for those in need.

So how are previous initiatives aimed at improving access to mental health care going?

The ‘Better Access to Psychiatrists, Psychologists and General Practitioners through the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) initiative’, also known as Better Access, was introduced to try and improve the treatment and management of mental illness in the community.

Under Better Access, patients can access Medicare-rebated mental health services through GPs, psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, psychologists, social workers and occupational therapists, with around 1.3 million people receiving psychological therapy through Better Access each year.

The program was individually evaluated in December 2022, with 16 recommendations presented to the Government. Now the Government has released its response to the evaluation, supporting seven of the recommendations, and a further two in principle.

The key findings from the evaluation highlighted the need for a more comprehensive and equitable approach to mental health care. While Better Access has increased access to services, it’s evident that many Australians still struggle to get the support they need. In particular, the evaluation revealed significant disparities in access for First Nations people, those in rural and remote areas, and individuals on low incomes.

In response, the Government announced a series of reforms, including addressing workforce issues, enhancing affordability, improving care coordination across services, plus expanding access which includes introducing a new national early intervention service and enhancing Medicare Mental Health Centres to provide free care to a wider range of people.

While these reforms are a step in the right direction, the time for talking about fixing the mental health crisis is over. What we urgently need now is concrete action, and we will watch closely to see how these reforms translate to solutions so that all Australians have access to the mental healthcare they need.

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