By contrast, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reports that the commonwealth only expends $3.6bn, with an increase of only 2.1% per annum. AIHW also notes that all governments only increased their spend by 1.5% per capita between 2014-15 and 2018-19 and that the proportion of total health expenditure spent on mental health actually decreased by 1.1%. It remains at 7.5%, and this is largely unchanged since 1992.
If we only see very limited new investments in this budget, then we must stop and ask âwhyâ? Common answers include stigma and structural discrimination. Others note the lack of simple âannounceablesâ. After all there is no simple âsocial vaccineâ. Governments are now working on new federal-state agreements and âwhole of governmentâ responses. So it is likely that real action is postponed (once again) till after the next election.
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The mental health challenges the Northern Rivers communities had faced in the aftermath of bushfires and floods has seen a new appointment made by the Rural Adversity Mental Health Program.
The RAMHP announced the appointment of its new co-ordinator Alex Grantham, who will be working across the Northern NSW Local Health District.
Ms Grantham has lived and worked in Northern Rivers of NSW for over 10 years, and brings to the role experience in regional development, training and assessment and community development.
With a social work background, Ms Grantham said she has a real passion for community capacity building and mental health promotion to the RAMHP role.