Friday, 31st March, 2006

After more than a decade of neglect, mental health is beginning to enter the thoughts of politicians. Prime Minister and Premiers at the recent Council of Australian Governments meeting agreed that spending should be increased and now a bipartisan committee of Senators has called for a massive funding boost.

The Mental Health Council of Australia, a peak organisation of bodies interested in mental health, can take much of the credit for the turnaround in political interest. MHCA produced a report last year pointing to the crisis in mental health treatment and its well researched content got through to Federal Health Minister Tony Abbott.

What remains to be seen is just how the changed political attitude turns into funds in this year's budget.