Workforce shortages that mental health Minister Matt Doocey tried to hide are now resulting in increasing pressure on our emergency departments as people needing help have nowhere else to go.

“Funding cuts to the community mental health and addiction services has left the system barely able to function, forcing those who need help into hospital emergency departments,” Labour mental health spokesperson Ingrid Leary said.

“Today’s report from the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission says that fewer people are accessing specialist mental health services because of workforce shortages.

“Despite repeated calls for investment and strategy, last week’s Budget failed to address those mental health workforce gaps, or to support people to access specialist services.

“The Government’s plan to transition from a police-led response to a mental health-response to mental health crises has no clear strategy and no dedicated roadmap. It’s also coming too late, given the scale of need and violent incidences already occurring in and on the way to emergency departments.

“Frontline staff are having to cope with an escalating number of mental health scenarios in emergency departments and a significant number of those involve people grappling with addiction.

“Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey can’t ignore the evidence in today’s report, which shows longer wait times, declined referrals, and workforce shortages.

“The report makes clear what the sector has been saying for months: mental health and addiction are getting worse, not better, under this government,” Ingrid Leary said.

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