Will Gillard's Promise end Health Risk for our Children?

by Melinda Hutchings
27/07/2010

The Brisbane Times has reported that Prime Minister Julia Gillard says she will make mental health a second-term priority for a re-elected Labor Government, promising an immediate boost of $277 million for suicide prevention measures.

The announcement is an effort to heal a sore spot for Labor, which has been criticised by mental health experts, including Australian of the Year Patrick McGorry, for a lack of spending in the area.

Ms Gillard said the package of suicide prevention measures would include more for frontline services, crisis prevention, services targeting men and services targeting young people.

''Mental illness is a place where quality services can make a real difference to people's lives, indeed it can save lives,” she told an economic conference in Brisbane this morning.

The plan would include psychological counselling services for 12,500 people who have attempted suicide or are at risk of suicide, 20,000 specialist psychiatry sessions for people with severe mental illness and funding to provide a respite for carers of mentally ill people.

With national surveys showing up to 750,000 young minds are at risk there is a desperate need to overhaul the mental health system and implement early intervention strategies because of the health risk facing our children.

Suicide is a leading cause of death among young people aged 15-24 and early intervention is critical if the incidence is to be reduced.

Read more: www.melindahutchings.com/blog

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