title: National mental health reform: less talk, more action.
abstract: The Council of Australian Governments revitalised national mental health reform in 2006. Unfortunately, evidence-based models of collaborative care have not yet been supported. Previous attempts at national reform have lacked a strategic vision. We continue to rely on arrangements that are fragmented between different levels of government, poorly resourced community services, and an embattled public hospital sector. Our persisting unwillingness to record or publicly report key measures of health, social or economic outcomes undermines community confidence in the mental health system. Six priority areas for urgent national action are proposed and linked to key measures of improved health system performance. In Australia, we recognise special groups (such as war veterans) and organise and fund services to meet their specific health needs. Such systems could be readily adapted to meet the needs of people with psychosis.
authors.affiliation: Mental Health Council of Australia, Canberra, ACT, Australia.
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rosenberg
authors.forename: Ian B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Hickie
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mendoza
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D016832:Employment, Supported / Q000191:economics; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000191:economics* / Q000458:organization & administration; D018166:Health Care Reform; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D033181:Information Dissemination / Q000379:methods; D020407:Internet; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D008603:Mental Health; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000191:economics* / Q000458:organization & administration