01-Jun-2018
A new report from Mental Health Australia and KPMG asks a simple question: Where is money best spent in mental health? The answer is of course not so simple, but the report aims to answer it by showing how the right investments in mental health can improve our communities.
Investing to Save tackles the complex issues within mental health and recommends practical approaches to reform Australia’s mental health system. The report highlights where government and businesses can see a significant return on their investment in mental health.
Mental Health Australia and KPMG have detailed three recommendations, which we have highlighted below.
- Support individuals with mental health issues to gain and maintain employment, and maintain the mental health and wellbeing of the workforce
- Work with employers to improve workplace mental health and wellbeing
- WorkCover incentive trial
- Paid peer workforce trial to build the evidence base
- Supported employment for people with a severe mental illness
- Minimise avoidable emergency department presentations and hospitalisations
- Housing First model for 15 to 24-year-olds with a mental illness
- Assertive outreach to people who have attempted suicide
- National minimum data set for primary mental health
- Invest in promotion, prevention and early intervention
- Early interventions in physical health
- Prevention and early intervention
- e-Health early interventions
The report estimates that these recommendations would generate between $8.2 billion and $12.7 billion from an investment of under $4.4 billion. To read the recommendations in more detail, download the Investing to Save Report: The Economic Benefits for Australia of Investment in Mental Health Reform.
Investing to Save shows that there is a clear economic case for improving the mental health and wellbeing of Australia. The recommendations in the report contribute towards improving the mental health of our communities and the mental wealth of Australia.
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