Labor's latest mental health funding commitment has been spread too thin, the federal government's former chief adviser on the issue says.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard announced on Tuesday that a re-elected Labor government would invest $277 million into mental health services.
John Mendoza, who quit the National Advisory Council on Mental Health in June because of the government's lack of vision, said the money was spread across too many areas.
"It would have been preferable to take a more targeted approach to ensure that one area was fully funded so that it would at least be able to stand on its own," he told ABC Television on Wednesday.
Mr Mendoza dubbed Labor's commitment a "grab bag" hastily put together by bureaucrats in the wake of the opposition's own announcement it would provide $1.5 billion to fund early intervention and youth mental health services once in power.
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The government's package includes $9 million to improve safety at suicide hotspots, such as the Gap in Sydney.
But Mr Mendoza said that very place had not been earmarked for funds. "Even if it were, you would only see three preventative measures put in place at a hotspot," he said. "That's simply not an adequate national approach."
Mr Mendoza said while all of the initiatives Labor was investing in were worthwhile, many would not make a "substantive dint" in Australia's suicide rate.
"I think Labor really needs to go back to the drawing broad," he said.
"The government is better informed than any government previously about what to do in this area, but it's really failing to take that advice on board."
