First report on the progress of the implementation of the Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan released

Chair of the Commission, Lucy Brogden said the Commission is encouraged by the progress made against the actions in the Fifth Plan, and by the level of commitment demonstrated across the sector in implementing the Plan.

“Through working on this report, we have seen some great examples across Australia to deliver genuine improvements for people living with mental illness,” Lucy Brogden said.

“Genuine reform takes time, persistence and collaboration – this report sets a foundation for achieving real change that will be visible for consumers and carers, as well as the sector more broadly.”

In compiling the report, the Commission surveyed 51 key stakeholders responsible for implementing the Fifth Plan including Primary Health Networks, government health departments, mental health commissions, and relevant Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council subcommittees.

Interim CEO, Maureen Lewis said this is the first report in a series that will be produced annually by the NMHC over the life of the Fifth Plan.

“We will use the baselines that have been established in this report to assess how actions are progressing into the future,” Maureen Lewis said.

“We will be engaging with consumers, carers and other key stakeholders to assess how the Fifth Plan is influencing service planning and delivery in the sector, and we will continue to monitor and report on these changes to ensure that there is genuine improvement for people living with mental illness in Australia.”

The COAG Health Council endorsed the Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan (Fifth Plan) in August 2017.

Monitoring Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Reform: Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan, 2018 was noted and agreed to be publically released by the COAG Health Council.