Report: August 06

'A new direction for Mental health' - Making sense of the figures

This five year plan includes a significant boost to a range of programs across government, comprising an additional:

  • $102 million for prevention, promotion and ear1y intervention
  • $712 million to improve and integrate the care system
  • $114 million for enhancing participation of people with mental illness in the' community, including more stable accommodation
  • $11 million for workforce development programs.

'New South Wales: A new direction for Mental Health' is a five-year plan to transform and uplift the State's mental health services. The plan signals a refreshing approach and aims to balance hospital focused care with community care.

In 2006/07, the NSW Government will provide a record dedicated mental health budget of $946 million - an increase of $93 million or 10.9 per cent on the 2005/06 budget. This year's mental health budget now accounts for 8.1 per cent of the total NSW Health Budget compared to just 6.7 per cent in 1994-95.

The new plan will provide earlier and better access to a greater range of mental health services in NSW. Additional and enhanced programs span health services, the justice system, and housing and supported accommodation. The NSW Government will also resource our police force and child protection workers to respond to the crisis situations that can arise when people are affected by acute mental illness.

The 2006/07 budget provides for $38 million of new initiatives:

  • $5 million ($58 million over five years) to expand provide more supported accommodation for people suffering from a mental illness under the Housing and Accommodation Support Initiative (HASI).
  • $6.8 million ($51.4 million over five years) for out of hours'  emergency and acute community responses.
  • $1.3 million ($6.5 million over five years) to enable community mental health teams to provide specialist treatment and support for people with a mental illness in contact with the criminal justice system.
  • $1.4 million ($28.6 million over 5 years) for tertiary treatment services for young people
  • $4 million ($37.3 million over 5 years) to expand specialist assessment and treatment services for older people
  • $2.2 million ($10.8 million over 5 years) to redesign Confused and Disturbed Elder (CADE) units.
  • $2.7 million ($26.3 million over five years) to establish a 24 hour mental health call service for NSW.
  • $5.6 million ($17.6 million over five years) for a co-morbidity package which better integrates mental health services with drug and alcohol services.
  • $3.8 million ($41.5 million over five years) for clinical mental health rehabilitation programs.
  • $9 million ($13.5 million over five years) to Non-Government Organisations to support families and carers.

To down load the full document go to: www.health.nsw.gov.au