Henry Pike (Bowman, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I recently had a Year 12 student from Redlands College, Sarah Brittain, join my office for work experience. She has raised an important issue that I'd like to share with the House. Sarah writes:

The issue of mental health in our society, especially among the younger generation, needs to be brought to more people's attention.

Our current system falls short in providing sufficient support, and I believe that its time people receive the support they need.

Through the experiences of family members working in the field, a common issue raised is that the Medicare rebate for mental health services isn't always sufficient.

The other issue is the limited number of visits that fail to meet the growing demand. It is important to recognise the value of mental health care and ensure accessible support without financial burdens.

The current government's decision to reduce subsidised psychology sessions from 20 to 10 per year needs to be rectified.

This change leaves many without the continued essential support, compounding their struggles.

At my school amongst some of my close friends, I have witnessed firsthand the devastating impact of mental health issues. Anxiety and depression are becoming more prevalent, especially among my generation.

We must create a society that nurtures mental well-being, offers accessible resources and promotes early intervention.

We urgently need to address mental health, ensuring an adequate Medicare rebate, reinstating the 20-session allowance, and confronting the prevalence of mental health issues.

I'd like to thank Sarah for raising this important issue and the work she's done in my office this fortnight.