Fiona Martin (Reid, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

On behalf of the House of Representatives Select Committee on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, I present the final report of the committee together with the minutes of proceedings.

Report made a parliamentary paper in accordance with standing order 39(e).

by leave—Over the past two years, significant natural disasters—drought, floods, bushfires and, of course, the COVID-19 pandemic—have put a significant spotlight on Australia's mental health services and their delivery. We have seen a significant increase in the demand for mental health services across Australia, and we know that this increased demand is being put on a system already undeniably under strain. It is being put on a mental health system that is fragmented and, at times, failing to provide the treatment and support that people who need it legitimately expect.

Access to quality mental health care when you need it is as essential as being able to see a GP. It is as essential as having a good road to drive on. Mental health services are essential services, and it is time that mental health and suicide prevention is given the same recognition as physical health, both within the health sector and by policymakers. While it is true that, as a society, we are getting better at having conversations about our mental health, there is still vital work to do to ensure that, when a conversation turns to seeking help, an individual can access services that are responsive and suited to their needs. Ensuring someone has early access to quality mental health services when they need them is not only just about doing what is right; it is also about recognising that failing to have effective early intervention and quality mental health services only leads to greater cost in the long run. The Productivity Commission inquiry report on mental health quantified the significant annual cost of mental ill-health and suicide at approximately $70 billion per year.

I commend the government for the work already being undertaken in this space, including the significant investment outlined within the 2021-22 budget and the upcoming National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement. If the government wants to improve services and minimise future cost, it must act decisively on the recommendations raised by the committee in its final report and across other relevant reports. There must be a shift to focusing on implementation.

I am committed to the recommendations of this report, and I am driven by both my professional and my personal experience to see this implemented. I am driven by the memory of the school desk that sat empty behind me one Monday morning 27 years ago; the memory of Brett, that tall, handsome, intelligent young man who was always kind but who would not be returning to school, because he had taken his own life. How often I still reflect on a life that was not fully lived.

Ensuring our schools and our children have access to evidence based, quality psychological services is absolutely vital. We would not accept a situation where our children could not access timely treatment for a broken bone. We should not accept a situation where it can take months for them to see the mental health services that they need. It is imperative that we increase the ratio of psychologists in schools to a minimum of one full-time equivalent on site for every 500 students across all levels of school. Psychologists and psychiatrists are the lifeblood of our mental health system, and it is critical that we produce more psychologists and psychiatrists in Australia.

I am driven as a psychologist to see the recommendations implemented. As a professional, having worked firsthand with families and children, I know the profoundly positive impact that early intervention can have. Effective reform across mental health and suicide prevention needs to be above politics, putting the needs of Australians first. To facilitate a bipartisan approach and ongoing parliamentary engagement, the committee has recommended the appointment of a standing committee on mental health, suicide prevention and social and emotional wellbeing in the next parliament. This will ensure mental health policy remains on the agenda and that the parliament can monitor the processes and implementation.

The committee has made 44 recommendations in total. These recommendations will improve access to mental health and suicide prevention services, manage workforce constraints and improve funding and evaluation. Investing in mental health, suicide prevention and social and emotional wellbeing has never been more important. Evidence was clear that the key points for early intervention are early in life and early in illness, supporting parents through pregnancy, providing scaffolding for children throughout school and helping adults transition through life stages with ready access, reliable information and clear pathways to appropriate services. To support this, we need significant structural reform, including enhancing our digital technologies. Australia needs a common mental health language shared across the community and a diverse, coordinated workforce that incorporates lived experience and a wide range of specialist skills.

We need to increase access to safe and supportive services for Australia's diverse population. People who are culturally and linguistically diverse, and LGBTIQ+, and people from rural and remote areas deserve equitable and inclusive services. To do this, our mental health and suicide prevention sectors require further investment in community infrastructure and culturally-competent trauma informed workforces. These investments are critical for building the connectedness and social and emotional wellbeing of Australians across their lifespan.

I also draw attention specifically to Australia's First Nations peoples. Representatives have told us that culture is key, and commissioning pathways for services in the social and cultural determinants of health is fundamental to affecting change. The evidence is there. What are we waiting for? The committee has recommended that priority be given to investing in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership within the mental health system and fully implementing the Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Declaration.

On behalf of the committee, I would like to thank those who made their submissions, who participated in public hearings and who shared their time, knowledge and lived experience throughout the course of the inquiry. I acknowledge and thank the member for Dobell for her work and assistance throughout. I also extend my deep gratitude to the committee secretariat team, Greg Ward, Vikki Darrough, James Peters and Cathy Rouland, for their professionalism, their dedication and their commitment.

The compounding trauma from living through extreme weather events, bushfires, floods and droughts along with COVID-19 and increasing levels of anxiety about the future must not be ignored. Australia needs a whole-of-government, whole-of-parliament approach to mental health and suicide prevention. The committee's recommendations have been developed with this in mind. On behalf of the committee, I commend the report to the House.

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