Announced today, the federal government will spend more than $26 million to boost mental health and suicide support services in South Australia over the next three years.

The funding is an extension of the federal and state governments’ bilateral schedule on mental health and suicide prevention, and will bring total Commonwealth funding to $92.1 million over five years to deliver such services in SA under the agreement.

The funds are split across programs with $12.3 million to establish a Head to Health Kids Hub which will provide children up to 12 years of age and their parents and carers with a range of mental health and early intervention services.

Children and families face barriers in accessing treatment, support and navigating the mental health system generally, the government said.

A further $13.8 million will be spent on suicide prevention services, including $9.2 million for aftercare services following attempted suicide, $2.5 million for bereavement support for families and communities after a suicide has occurred, and $2.1 million to trial a new model of care to prevent suicidal behaviour.

It follows about $66 million spent on other South Australian mental health services like an Aboriginal Mental Health and Wellbeing Centre, mental health aftercare services, Head to Health services at Mt Barker and Mt Gambier and more.

The federal government said that from 2020-2022 nearly 43 per cent of Australians aged 16-86 years old had experienced a mental disorder, while one in six had experienced suicidal thoughts or behaviours.

Further, more than one third of Australians reported having been close to someone who had taken or attempted to take their own life, the government said.

The federal government said the funding addressed gaps identified in suicide prevention services and delivered on a 2022 election commitment.

The funding extension does not cover a $125 million per annum gap for unmet psychosocial support services identified last year by the ‘Unmet Needs Study’.

That study found 19,000 people in South Australia cannot access the assistance they need for services like carer programs, rehabilitation and home-based support services.

When the report was released, South Australian Health Minister Chris Picton said he would be working with the federal government – as recommended by the report, which said both tiers of government were responsible for the services.

Asked by InDaily when the state government anticipated more Canberra help to fund the recommendations of the Unmet Needs Study, Picton said he was “continuing to work with the Federal Government”.

“National Cabinet’s recent announcement to design additional Foundational Supports to be jointly commissioned by the Commonwealth and the states compliments the State Government’s generational investment into mental health including 130 extra mental health beds across the state,” he said.

“The delivery of Foundational Supports outside of the NDIS will provide additional psychosocial supports through existing government service settings where appropriate and phased in over time.

“The Malinauskas Government is committed to increasing funding for NGO commissioned mental health services, which has already been displayed though an increase of 11.8 per cent just in our first year in government.

“This followed cuts to NGO psychosocial funding under the previous government. Between 2018-19 and 2020-21, funding for NGO commissioned mental health services by the SA Government was cut by 19.2 per cent. The percentage of that cut would be even larger if accounting for inflation.”

On today’s funding announcement, Federal Health and Aged Care Minister Mark Butler said the funds would “ensure our system meets the needs of those who use it”.

“The additional funding of more than $26 million addresses gaps in the system and will help South Australians get the services and support they need where and when they need it,” he said.

“Our Government is investing in mental health services and suicide support so all Australians, no matter where they live, can access quality and affordable mental health care.”

Picton said the additional $26 million would “make a real difference to the South Australian community for people who are struggling with their mental health”.

“This starts with kids, teenagers and their families, who will now have a dedicated hub where they can get help when they need it,” Picton said.

“We’ve also made a substantial investment in suicide care as we know losing a loved one to suicide is a family’s worst nightmare.

“On top of our partnership with the Federal Government, we are already building and opening 130 new mental health beds across seven major public hospitals and expanding community services.”

The news follows a study from the national peak body for psychiatrists which painted a “very disturbing” picture with four in 10 South Australian psychiatrists found to be considering leaving the profession.

The survey of 1269 psychiatrists nationwide, of which 143 were South Australian, found 69 per cent were experiencing multiple symptoms of burnout over the past three years.

Further, 40 per cent of the South Australian psychiatrists surveyed said they were considering leaving the profession altogether in the next five years – the second highest level after Western Australia.

In August last year, the South Australian government appointed its first full-time mental health commissioner since 2019, with Taimi Allen brought over from New Zealand to assist the government in fixing issues with the state’s mental health services.

The role was previously split between John Mannion, Heather Nowak and David Kelly on a part-time basis, but Health Minister Chris Picton said re-establishing the position as a full-time role would have a positive impact on the mental health and wellbeing of South Australians.

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