Harry Jenkins (Speaker) Share this | Hansard source

I have received a message from the Senate transmitting a resolution agreed to by the Senate on 26 October 2010 relating to mental health. Copies of the message have been placed on the table for the information of honourable members. I do not propose to read its terms which will be recorded in the Votes and Proceedings and Hansard. The Senate requests the concurrence of the House in this resolution.

The message read as follows—

That the Senate—

(a)

notes that:

(i)

mental illness afflicts more Australians than almost all other health disorders, only ranking behind cancer and heart disease in prevalence,

(ii)

45 per cent of the nation’s population will experience a mental health disorder at some point in life,

(iii)

younger Australians, those between 16 and 24, bear the brunt of mental illness with the prevalence of problems declining with age,

(iv)

with early and targeted treatment many young people can overcome mental illness or lower the incidence of progression or relapse,

(v)

expansion of the ‘headspace’ and Early Psychosis Prevention and Intervention (EPPI) centres models could help an estimated 200 000 young Australians and in doing so free up existing services for others with mental illnesses whilst also alleviating pressures on public hospitals and emergency departments, and

(vi)

the government has moved to cut services in mental healthcare; and

(b)

calls on the government:

(i)

to expand the number of ‘headspace’ centres to a minimum of 90 nationally,

(ii)

to establish a national network of 20 EPPI centres,

(iii)

to provide an additional 800 beds for mental health associated with EPPI centres,

(iv)

to appropriate the funds necessary to provide these critical steps to expanding mental health treatment facilities, and immediately to provide additional funds for existing ‘headspace’ centres.

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