Former Governor-General backs psychiatrists

The latest 'AMA Public Hospital Report Card: Mental Health Edition' lays bare what psychiatrists, clinicians, and families have known for years — Australia’s mental health system is under extraordinary strain, and the consequences are increasingly impossible to ignore.

The report reveals a stark reality inside our hospitals and emergency departments. Demand is climbing, resources are shrinking, and mental health conditions — already a major and growing component of public hospital care — continue to receive far less investment than comparable physical health challenges.

In this context, we are proud to see ASoP Executive Director Dr Pramudie Gunaratne and ASoP Patron General David Hurley quoted in the national coverage of this report.

Dr Gunaratne spoke powerfully about the reality on the ground — a system stretched so thin that clinicians are forced to triage rather than treat, and people with complex mental illness struggle to access meaningful care. She reinforced that this is not about blame — it is about an undeniable gap in workforce, resources, and investment that must be addressed if we are to deliver compassionate, evidence-based treatment.

General Hurley echoed this urgency, emphasising the need for a first-class mental health system and a workforce supported to provide it. His words reflect the experience of countless Australians and their families who see the system under pressure every day.

The establishment of the Australian Society of Psychiatrists (ASoP) marks a new chapter in national advocacy for mental health reform. Backed by leaders across the sector, ASoP aims to unify psychiatric voices, champion evidence-based care, and drive the investment required to rebuild a system that has fallen dangerously behind.

Australia cannot afford another decade of stagnation. Meaningful, sustained reform and investment are essential — and overdue.

Full article: here