MHCC ACT 2020-21 ACT budget priorities
Canberra’s population is growing and so is the call on mental health and wellbeing services. In the 2019/20 ACT budget significant investment was made in the range of government acute clinical mental health services. In the 2020/21 ACT budget this needs to be matched by a substantial investment in the community managed mental health sector.
Investment to ensure a strong vibrant community mental health sector offering best practice services by a highly qualified workforce is consistent with ACT government policy. It would facilitate more people being supported in their community and contributing actively to society. The range of services offered by this sector – recovery, early intervention, prevention, health promotion and community support – also reduces the likelihood of people with mental health challenges reaching crisis point, which in turn reduces pressure on the more expensive acute government mental health services, the justice system and housing.