Australia’s national strategy to improve mental health and prevent suicide has been declared “not fit for purpose” in a new report by the Productivity Commission, which calls for a complete overhaul of the current approach.
The commission has been examining the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement, a framework outlining commitments between the federal and state governments to tackle mental health issues across the country. The interim report criticizes the agreement as “fundamentally flawed,” noting that it has failed to deliver meaningful improvements since its inception in 2022.
Commissioner Angela Jackson highlighted that significant change is unlikely under the current system, citing the broad and imprecise outcomes such as “reforming the mental health system,” which are difficult to measure or track effectively. Australia is currently grappling with a mental health crisis, characterized by increasing demand for care, workforce shortages, and a lack of hospital beds for those with complex conditions.
The report reveals that key indicators, including mental health outcomes and suicide rates, have stagnated or worsened over recent years. Alarmingly, the suicide rate among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples has increased between 2018 and 2023.
Co-commissioner and Gungarri man Selwyn Button pointed out that many initiatives are disconnected, creating a fragmented system. He emphasized that early intervention and suicide prevention efforts require significant improvement to be effective in reducing the tragic toll on vulnerable populations.
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