Report Finds Australia’s Mental Health System Failing to Meet Community Needs

Report Finds Australia’s Mental Health System Failing to Meet Community Needs
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Australia’s mental health and suicide prevention system is failing to deliver adequate support, leaving about 500,000 people without access to specialist care, according to a government-commissioned inquiry reported by Anadolu Agency. The Productivity Commission’s final review of the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement — signed in 2021 by federal, state, and territory governments — found that limited progress has been made in improving services.

The report highlighted that these gaps contribute to roughly 3,000 suicide deaths each year and that one in five Australians experiences mental illness annually, costing the nation’s economy more than AUD 200 billion (around USD 132 billion). The commission urged urgent reforms to assist those with moderate or severe mental health conditions who are excluded from the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

It also recommended extending the current agreement for another year, until 2026, while undertaking a full rewrite to ensure accountability and better service coordination. Health Minister Mark Butler welcomed the findings, saying discussions with state health ministers will be held in December. He called the review “an opportunity to reset,” emphasizing the need to include the voices of people with lived experience in shaping future mental health policies.