In The Australian: call for fundamental shift in mental health care

This powerful commentary from Dr Pramudie Gunaratne, CEO of the Australian Society of Psychiatrists (ASoP), examines Australia's mental health system failures and the urgent need for a fundamental shift in how mental health care is funded. Published on the eve of the Westfield Bondi Junction Inquest findings, selected excerpts from the article are shared below.

“We live in one of the wealthiest countries on the planet, and yet we have deserted people with severe mental illness. Families are left to carry unimaginable pain while loved ones tumble down a preventable cascade into social isolation, homelessness, the criminal justice system and death. There is welcome recognition at the highest levels of government, with our federal Health Minister acknowledging this as 'a stain on our nation' – but recognition must be matched with decisive action.”

“A fundamental shift in approach is needed to reverse the downward spiral. For decades, mental health funding has been channelled into one-off, stand-alone initiatives promising simple solutions. While well intentioned, this piecemeal approach has rarely delivered lasting impact and has fuelled the false belief that the problem is unsolvable.”

“The reality is that the whole house is in disrepair, and it needs a rebuild from the ground up.”

Full article: here