A major review of Australia's mental health system paints a "disturbing picture" and calls for increased efforts to halve the suicide rate and stop people falling through the cracks.
Health Minister Sussan Ley believes there's enough mental health funding but it's not being well spent.
She released the long awaited, widely leaked, government-commissioned report on Thursday, admitting it painted a "disturbing picture".
"We cannot continue to place band-aids on the mental health system and expect it to heal itself," she said.
The 700-page report makes 25 recommendations, including diverting $1 billion from acute hospital funding into more community-based and primary health services.
Ms Ley has already ruled that out.
It also calls for a national plan for suicide prevention with the aim of reducing attempts by 50 per cent over the next decade, more clarity over NDIS eligibility and encouraging GPs and pharmacists to be more involved in mental health care.
It recommends indigenous mental health be made a national priority and included in the closing the gap targets.
The government spends about $14 billion each year on mental health and while the report says that's significant, it's not being spent on the right things.
"There is evidence far too many people suffer worse mental and physical ill-health because of the treatment they receive, or are condemned to ongoing cycles of avoidable treatment and medications, including avoidable involuntary seclusion and restraint," it says.
National Mental Health Commission chair Allan Fels said there needs to be a shift to a model of person-centred care, where the system is designed to fit the needs of people and not what service providers have to offer.
"We can and must get better at catching people before they fall," Prof Fels said.
The estimated economic cost of mental illness ranges from $28.6 billion a year to $40 billion - or more than two per cent of national income.
Mental Health Australia chief Frank Quinlan said the status quo had to go.
"This is no time for business as usual," he said.
Ms Ley refused to detail which recommendations the government would adopt, instead setting up a Council of Australian Government working group to co-ordinate a national approach.
Labor's spokeswoman on mental health Jan McLucas agreed the system needed to be better integrated.
She rejected the false choice between resourcing primary and community-based mental health care and resourcing in-hospital care for those who need it.
* Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467.
Share
