Mental health needs $5b boost: Greens

The federal government needs to spend an extra $5 billion over five years on mental
health, the Greens say.
Greens senator and health spokeswoman Rachel Siewert says the resignation of Prime
Minister Kevin Rudd's top mental health adviser is indicative of the "tokenistic"
approach the federal government has taken on a problem affecting millions of
Australians.
National Advisory Council on Mental Health chairman John Mendoza quit on Friday,
after accusing the federal government of a lack of vision and commitment.
Just $175 million was allocated to new funding for mental health in last month's
$7.2 billion federal health budget.
In his resignation letter to federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon and fellow council
members, Professor Mendoza said the federal government was trying to take credit for
Howard-era spending on mental health.
He said there was no evidence of any new investment in mental health, and described
the money set aside for new services as "appalling".
Speaking to AAP in Perth on Sunday, Senator Siewert said she was not surprised by
Prof Mendoza's resignation.
"We're disappointed, but not surprised at John Mendoza's resignation given that it's
well known that he's extremely disappointed with the government's lack of response
to calls for greater investment in mental health," she said.
"It's a recognition of the fact that the government has been underperforming in this
area."
Senator Siewert said the government had missed a "golden opportunity" to increase
mental health spending in its proposed health reforms.
"$175 million is a fraction of what's needed," she said.
"You need around 10 per cent of your health budget invested in mental health.
"By our estimates, that's around $5 billion extra that needs to be invested in
mental health over five years."
Senator Siewert said mental health issues affected all areas of society - including
crime - and that early intervention could save money.
"If you invest now, especially when early intervention is absolutely critical, you
save money in the health budget long term," she said.
"This is particularly for young people, because statistics show that from their
early teens to their early 20s is the time they start having mental illness."
In Melbourne, psychiatrist and Australian of the Year Patrick McGorry said Prof
Mendoza's resignation appeared "almost inevitable" due to delays in government
action.
"He's put his heart and soul into mental health reform," Professor McGorry told
reporters.
"We've seen both sides of politics not stepping up to the plate and not dealing with
an issue of national importance.
"They've put billions into acute health and just scraps from the table into mental
health."
He said greenshoots programs like youth mental health foundation's headspace, which
he helped to establish, and early psychosis intervention could be increased
immediately and reduce pressure on hospital emergency departments.
"You don't have to wait until 2011 to begin the rebuilding process," Prof McGorry.
But, he said, there was still time to improve.
"I don't want to just beat them over the head, I want to say I'd like to help you
solve this problem."