Mental health
The Mental Health Program continues to respond to the changing needs of the community. At a statewide level this work is coordinated by the Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol Office (MHDAO), located in the NSW Department of Health. At a local level, services and programs are run by Area Health Services, Justice Health, the Children's Hospital Westmead, Non Government Organisations, research institutions and other partner departments.
A New Direction for Mental Health
The plan, A new direction for Mental Health, represents a new approach to service provision for people with mental illness and for their families and carers. The Plan provides a better balance between hospital-focused and community care.
A $939 million program over five years commenced with $149 million in additional funding in the 2006/2007 financial year. The five-year plan includes $338 million of new recurrent funding enhancements for initiatives and expanded services that began in 2006/07, following the $263 million in spending enhancements announced by the Premier as Health Minister.
Under the plan, MHDAO aims to improve coordination between mental health services and service providers and recruit additional mental health staff to hospitals and community services.
Interagency Action Plan for Better Mental Health
In the context of the Government's broad reform agenda for mental health, the Interagency Action Plan for Better Mental Health aims to ensure there is coordinated and effective action across government agencies to respond to the needs of people with mental illness, as well as those of their families and carers.
The Plan provides a clear framework to focus this work on three key objectives:
- Prevent or intervene early in the onset of mental illness;
- Improve community support to those who need continuing care; and
- Improve responses to mental health emergencies.
Health, education, housing, police, justice, community and disability agencies are making considerable progress in implementing the commitments set out in the Plan. Progress details can be found at:
- Interagency Action Plan for Better Mental Health: Second Yearly Progress Report
- Interagency Action Plan for Better Mental Health: First Yearly Progress Report
