Most Australians believe the mental health care system is failing those who need it most, a new poll finds, as a peak psychiatry body demands urgent federal investment in the sector.
A new Essential poll commissioned by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) surveyed 1,020 Australians – the majority of whom either had indirect or direct experience of mental ill-health – on the state of the nation’s mental health care services.
It found 71 per cent believed the current system was not meeting the needs of most Australians, with more than half conceding mental health care was difficult to access for those that needed it most (66 per cent) and also largely unaffordable (64 per cent).
Some 56 per cent of participants also believed the federal government was not doing enough to improve the affordability and accessibility of mental health services.
These findings pointed to a system that was increasingly under strain, with parts of it no longer fit for purpose, RANZCP president Astha Tomar said.
“On paper, Australia’s psychiatrist workforce may appear adequate. In practice, too many Australians are still waiting too long, travelling too far, or unable to access care at all,” she said.
“This is not just a workforce numbers issue, it is more an access issue, a distribution issue and, increasingly, a system design issue.”
Limited time, fragmented pathways and resourcing pressures widened the gap between the care psychiatrists were trained to provide and what the current system allowed them to deliver, Dr Tomar said.
“This is leading to what is recognised in healthcare as moral distress, where clinicians know what care is needed but are unable to provide it within the system they are working in,” she said.
“Over time, that has a profound impact. It contributes to burnout, to workforce attrition, and to clinicians questioning whether they can continue to work in a system that does not consistently support the care their patients need.
“If we do not address this, we risk losing skilled psychiatrists from a system that is already under pressure.”
To address the issue, RANZCP is urging the commonwealth to expand funding for the sector in its upcoming May budget, with Dr Tomar describing it as a chance for “meaningful, system-level” action.
The association has called for a $22.9m investment into regional psychiatric posts, supervision, and digital infrastructure to help support rural communities; $2m into streamlining training programs between junior doctors and those approaching retirement; $6m annual investment to embed psychiatrists into Medicare Mental Health Kids Hubs, and improved access to mental health care by expanding psychiatric training into community clinics and private hospitals.
“Investing in the psychiatry workforce is one of the most effective ways to improve access to care, reduce pressure on hospitals and support earlier intervention,” Dr Tomar said.
“But this is not just about training more psychiatrists. Instead it is about building a system where they can practise effectively, sustainably, and in a way that delivers the care patients need.”
