The importance of regional responses
The latest release of data from the National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing published on Friday gives us new information about the level of mental health challenges in more specific areas than we’ve had before.
The new data provides estimates of the proportion of people experiencing mental health challenges across Primary Health Network (PHN) areas. These areas are crucial as the Australian Government funds local mental health services through the 31 different PHN organisations.
Unfortunately, the data confirms rates of mental health issues are high right across the country, and higher still in some regional and remote areas of the Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia.
Data from Mental Health Australia’s 2023 Mapping Mental Health Care research project also demonstrates the higher need for mental health supports in regional areas across Australia, from Griffith and Wagga Wagga in NSW, to Warrnambool in Victoria, and Katherine in the Northern Territory.
The data also points to the need for flexibility to respond to local needs. Each of the 31 PHN areas has different community demographics, strengths and needs, unique geography and different existing services and infrastructure.
This localised data shows that while some regions have particularly high levels of need, there is no region in Australia untouched by mental health issues.
These estimates at the PHN level can help governments, PHNs and service providers to work together to better plan and deliver services to meet community need. We need to get the balance right of national consistency and local flexibility.
While many of our country’s decision-makers recognise mental health as an ongoing issue, and have an increasing understanding of the challenges we’re facing, we’re missing investment that matches the scale of the problem. Governments spend only 7 per cent of total health expenditure on mental health (down from 8 per cent in 2019-20), despite mental health conditions and substance use disorders being the leading cause of poor health in Australia in 2023 (26% of non-fatal “burden of disease”).
The upcoming meeting of Health and Mental Health Ministers on 16 August provides a key opportunity for all governments to come together and commit to acting on this issue.
Mental Health Australia is working on a statement of priorities with our members ahead of this meeting to strongly encourage all Australian governments to collaborate and co-invest in the systems, services and supports that not only address increasing demand, but also improve the delivery of person-centred care across the country.
Our statement, which will be provided to Ministers shortly, outlines the next steps needed in priority areas of system reform, and provides direction for all governments on how to address these challenges together.
Through continued partnership between governments, the mental health sector, people with lived and living experience of mental ill-health, and their family, carers and supporters, all people in Australia – regardless of their postcode – should be able to access the support they need when they need it.
Carolyn Nikoloski
CEO, Mental Health Australia | 
