Rosalie Woodruff MP | Greens Health spokesperson
It’s good to see the government are serious about tackling mental health with the release of the 'Rethink Mental Health' plan today.
In Australia, almost half of us are affected by a mental illness at some point in our lives, with around 60,000 Tasmanians affected each year. Mental health issues affect us all, and the government has admitted the current system is complex, disjointed and confusing to navigate.
The government’s proposal for a single public mental health system is essential to best support people with mental health issues and their families. Similarly, early access to mental health support is the foundation to speeding up people's recovery.
It's important that this is more than another report gathering dust on the shelf, and crucial Minister Ferguson properly fund the plan.
Although some reorganisation of the current system will help, there's a very real concern that there's simply not enough dedicated money to pay for it.
The Greens would also like to see a detailed implementation plan to accompany this report.