The 2017-18 Budget will continue to support mental health reform in NSW with an extra $20 million for community based mental health services, bringing the Government’s recurrent investment in reform to $95 million per annum.
Treasurer Dominic Perrottet and Minister for Mental Health, Tanya Davies, said this increased investment delivers on the Government’s commitment to improve the lives of people in NSW who depend on these critical services.
“This is a Budget which invests our success back into our people and our communities, including this investment which provides community based support and care for people living with mental illness,” Mr Perrottet said.
“At the same time as upgrading hospitals across NSW we want to give people, who would benefit from care outside the hospital system, the opportunity to strengthen their independence and involvement in the community.”
Mrs Davies said this investment is vital to continuing the shift from hospital care to the community.
“The NSW Government is continuing to put people, not process, at the centre of the mental health care system,” Mrs Davies said.
“It gives a helping hand to those who need it by expanding community mental health teams, community managed living supports and specialist services for children, adolescents, adults and older people.” Mental Health
The extra $20 million will support the ongoing strengthening of mental health care in NSW with:
Following today’s commitment, the NSW Government is guaranteeing to spend a minimum of $380 million over the next four years, as part of the decade-long whole-of-government reform of mental health care.