The Second National Mental Health Plan: an opportunity to take stock and move forward.
In the first five years of Australia's National Mental Health Strategy (including the National Mental Health Plan), there has already been a 55% increase in spending on community health services, and overall funding for mental health services has increased by 24%. However, the broadening of the Plan's objectives warrants further increases in mental health funding. The focus has been on people with psychotic disorders (who represent a minority of those with mental disorders); in the Second National Mental Health Plan, endorsed in July 1998, the focus is broadened to include depressive disorders, and promotion of mental well-being in the broader community is a key theme. These initiatives will require partnerships, particularly with primary care.
Singh
B S
BS
Department of Psychiatry, University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Vic. b.singh@medicine.unimelb.edu.au
McGorry
P D
PD
D001315:Australia; D017281:Cost of Illness; D005380:Financing, Government; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006291:Health Policy / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000191:economics; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics