World’s First National Report Card into Mental Health and Suicide Prevention

Professor Allan Fels, Chair of the National Mental Health Commission has produced the first report card on mental health in the nation. He has urged Prime Minister, Premiers and Chief Ministers to reaffirm their commitment to mental health. The report card looks to take a whole-of-life approach as it affects every part of a person’s life and those around them.

While Australia leads the world in progressive mental health policy, it falls down in its service delivery. One in five Australian adults experience a mental health difficulty in any given year, and an estimated 7.29 million Australians aged 16 to 85 have a lived experience of mental illness. People with a severe mental illness have their life expectancy reduced by 25 years on average due to the increased likelihood of heart related conditions, diabetes and obesity. There are many contributing factors and there are no simple answers, but this demands immediate action.

For more information and to access the report card, click on http://www.mentalhealthcommission.gov.au/our-report-card.aspx