Published Wednesday, 30 May, 2007 at 10:41 AM
JOINT STATEMENT
Minister for Health
The Honourable Stephen Robertson
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for Infrastructure
The Honourable Anna Bligh
RECORD BUDGET INCREASE FOR MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
The Beattie Government is building a better mental health system with a record increase of $528.8 million over four years in next week’s State Budget to assist Queenslanders with mental health issues.
Premier Peter Beattie said the huge whole-of-Government funding injection was the largest increase in mental health investment in Queensland’s history and included $198.3 million towards new and improved mental health infrastructure.
“Mental illness has the capacity to rip through the hearts of individuals, families and communities.
“Mentally ill people are the most vulnerable people in our society and without help they can become isolated. There are approximately 103,000 Queenslanders who have a serious mental health illness.
“The most important issue for those with a mental illness is for them to be able to get help when they need it.”
Deputy Premier and Treasurer Anna Bligh said that although not all suicides are attributable to mental health problems, in Queensland the suicide rate is 14 % above the national average.
“The fact that our suicide rate is above the national average tells us that we need to have more services available for people in their moments of crisis.”
“The funding follows a $366.2 million mental health boost in the Health Action Plan and Queensland’s response to COAG’s National Plan on Mental Health.
“It means that our Government’s total investment in mental health will have increased by a massive $895 million in just over five years to 2010-11.
“Queensland has never before experienced a mental health budget on this scale.”
Health Minister Stephen Robertson said that these unprecedented funding injections were being used to employ more mental health doctors, nurses and allied health professionals, opening more mental health beds in hospitals and building better environments for patients and staff.
“We are also funding non-government organisations like never before and developing a more just and compassionate system for victims of crimes perpetrated by mental health patients,” he said.
Mr Robertson said State Budget funding would be spent on a range of mental health improvements over the next four years including:
• $176 million, including $28.5 million in 2007-08, to employ more than 360 community mental health clinicians such as psychiatrists, nurses and allied health professionals. This will mean stronger and closer support for mental health patients in the community, such as more home visits resulting in less patients being re-admitted to hospital.
• $53.48 million, including $13 million in 2007-08, to implement recommendations in Brendan Butler’s review of the Mental Health Act 2000 in relation to the rights of victims of crime committed by people with a mental illness. This will include establishing a new state-wide Victim Support Service in 2007-08 and an additional 35 forensic mental health staff specialising in supporting and treating patients who have committed crimes.
• $121.5 million to build new hospital wards with a total 140 additional mental health beds across the state. Wards containing 130 mental health beds will be upgraded. This is in addition to the new Children’s, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast hospitals. These major capital improvements will relieve a lot of mental health bed block in hospitals.
• $35.64 million in increased funding to non-government organisations that provide support and accommodation to those in the community with a mental health condition. These organisations help individuals to lead a life outside the health system and help create alternatives to hospital admission. These will include a new residential recovery program, more personal support packages to provide assistance to help people live independently in the community; and new places to provide short term accommodation for patients in need of respite or who are in crisis
• $9.3 million, including $1.7 million in 2007-08, to promote activities to boost mental health awareness in the community. These activities will aim to prompt early intervention and treatment for mental health conditions before they become acute or severe illnesses. This will reduce the number of people requiring ongoing hospital treatment for their mental health condition.
• $11.4 million, including $2.1 million in 2007-08, to support the mental health workforce through training and professional development programs
Mr Robertson said the mental health package also included $40 million ($10 million each year) for the Department of Housing to build or purchase specially designed accommodation for people with a mental illness.
The State Budget will also provided $22.4 million over four years for Disability Services Queensland to provide a range of social support services to people living in the new accommodation.
“Further detail of the mental health package will be provided in the Queensland Strategic Plan for Mental Health 2007-2017 currently being finalised,” he said.
“The package builds on the commitment from our Government to address decades of neglect of mental health services in Queensland.
“Queensland now has the investment necessary to build world-class mental health services for patients, their families, staff and the broader community.”
30 May, 2007
Further inquiries: Premier’s Office: 3224 4500
Deputy Premier’s Office: 3224 4379
Office of the Minister for Health: 3234 1185
Premier Peter Beattie said the huge whole-of-Government funding injection was the largest increase in mental health investment in Queensland’s history and included $198.3 million towards new and improved mental health infrastructure.
“Mental illness has the capacity to rip through the hearts of individuals, families and communities.
“Mentally ill people are the most vulnerable people in our society and without help they can become isolated. There are approximately 103,000 Queenslanders who have a serious mental health illness.
“The most important issue for those with a mental illness is for them to be able to get help when they need it.”
Deputy Premier and Treasurer Anna Bligh said that although not all suicides are attributable to mental health problems, in Queensland the suicide rate is 14 % above the national average.
“The fact that our suicide rate is above the national average tells us that we need to have more services available for people in their moments of crisis.”
“The funding follows a $366.2 million mental health boost in the Health Action Plan and Queensland’s response to COAG’s National Plan on Mental Health.
“It means that our Government’s total investment in mental health will have increased by a massive $895 million in just over five years to 2010-11.
“Queensland has never before experienced a mental health budget on this scale.”
Health Minister Stephen Robertson said that these unprecedented funding injections were being used to employ more mental health doctors, nurses and allied health professionals, opening more mental health beds in hospitals and building better environments for patients and staff.
“We are also funding non-government organisations like never before and developing a more just and compassionate system for victims of crimes perpetrated by mental health patients,” he said.
Mr Robertson said State Budget funding would be spent on a range of mental health improvements over the next four years including:
• $176 million, including $28.5 million in 2007-08, to employ more than 360 community mental health clinicians such as psychiatrists, nurses and allied health professionals. This will mean stronger and closer support for mental health patients in the community, such as more home visits resulting in less patients being re-admitted to hospital.
• $53.48 million, including $13 million in 2007-08, to implement recommendations in Brendan Butler’s review of the Mental Health Act 2000 in relation to the rights of victims of crime committed by people with a mental illness. This will include establishing a new state-wide Victim Support Service in 2007-08 and an additional 35 forensic mental health staff specialising in supporting and treating patients who have committed crimes.
• $121.5 million to build new hospital wards with a total 140 additional mental health beds across the state. Wards containing 130 mental health beds will be upgraded. This is in addition to the new Children’s, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast hospitals. These major capital improvements will relieve a lot of mental health bed block in hospitals.
• $35.64 million in increased funding to non-government organisations that provide support and accommodation to those in the community with a mental health condition. These organisations help individuals to lead a life outside the health system and help create alternatives to hospital admission. These will include a new residential recovery program, more personal support packages to provide assistance to help people live independently in the community; and new places to provide short term accommodation for patients in need of respite or who are in crisis
• $9.3 million, including $1.7 million in 2007-08, to promote activities to boost mental health awareness in the community. These activities will aim to prompt early intervention and treatment for mental health conditions before they become acute or severe illnesses. This will reduce the number of people requiring ongoing hospital treatment for their mental health condition.
• $11.4 million, including $2.1 million in 2007-08, to support the mental health workforce through training and professional development programs
Mr Robertson said the mental health package also included $40 million ($10 million each year) for the Department of Housing to build or purchase specially designed accommodation for people with a mental illness.
The State Budget will also provided $22.4 million over four years for Disability Services Queensland to provide a range of social support services to people living in the new accommodation.
“Further detail of the mental health package will be provided in the Queensland Strategic Plan for Mental Health 2007-2017 currently being finalised,” he said.
“The package builds on the commitment from our Government to address decades of neglect of mental health services in Queensland.
“Queensland now has the investment necessary to build world-class mental health services for patients, their families, staff and the broader community.”
30 May, 2007
Further inquiries: Premier’s Office: 3224 4500
Deputy Premier’s Office: 3224 4379
Office of the Minister for Health: 3234 1185