At Croakey earlier this week, a senior psychiatrist and academic Professor Alan Rosen warned that the Federal Government’s closure of specific services for young people with psychosis “is a national tragedy in the making”.
And yesterday at the National Press Club, psychiatrist Professor Patrick McGorry raised similar concerns, and said mental health had gone backwards under the Turnbull/Abbott Government (watch his address here).
Below is a statement from Health Minister Sussan Ley responding to these concerns.
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Sussan Ley writes:
We promised to make mental health a first-term priority and, from next month, we are delivering the changes some of this nation’s top mental health experts recommended.
That wide-ranging review of existing mental health services indicated it was not about more money, it is about allocating what is a substantial amount of funding more effectively, and this is exactly what we are doing.
On mental health policy, we are absolutely committed to delivering some really positive reforms.
I welcome Patrick’s passionate advocacy in mental health, particularly on behalf of our young people. He has strong and forthright views and I am always open to hearing what he has to say.
Background information
National Mental Health Commission’s review – funding recommendations
The Review is framed on the basis of making change within existing resources. The Commission considers there is substantial funding within the mental health system but that it is not distributed efficiently, effectively or fairly. Volume 1, Page 42.
The Review is not proposing that more money should be spent on mental health at this stage, but rather than the overall mental health funding bucket should be maintained and spent on more effective things. We need to make changes within existing resources. Volume 1, page 52.
The way forward
The National Mental Health Commission’s Review of Mental Health Programmes and Services found a mental health system where despite past improvements, innovations and investment, there remained significant gaps in services and variable results for people and families.
In November 2015, the Turnbull Coalition committed to a bold package of mental health reforms that puts the individual at the centre of our mental health system. These reforms were recommended by experts and strongly welcomed by mental health stakeholders.
Our Primary Health Networks (PHNs) play a key role in these reforms and will facilitate co-investment by states and territories and other key community, and private partners in regionalised mental health service development and suicide prevention.
The Coalition is now implementing these reforms over three years from 2016-17 to 2018-19, which will require significant effort, consultation and work with PHNs and the sector to achieve success.
Early Psychosis Youth Service – The Facts
The National Mental Health Commission Review identified that the EPYS centres need to be closely designed and implemented in association with state community and hospital-based services. Volume 2, page 156. Under the current programme roll out, this did not happen.
What’s happening now
The Coalition is redirecting funding from six standalone Early Psychosis Youth Service (EPYS) centres to Primary Health Networks (PHNs) to ensure early intervention support to a broader group of young people with, or at risk of, severe mental illness.
Investment in early intervention for young people is not being cut, instead the funds are being redistributed to PHNs across Australia, including regional areas, who can then service the needs of the young people. Remember: there are 31 PHN areas across all of Australia. There are six EPYS sites in capital cities.
Why is it happening
The National Mental Health Commission review, and advice from an Expert Reference Group, strongly supported the need to intervene early for a broader group of young people.
The Government’s Expert Reference Group (ERG) that advised on the implementation of the Review recommendations agreed early intervention services for young people experiencing first episode of psychosis and other forms of severe mental illness should be embedded within the mental health care system, and expressed concern that that current approach to Commonwealth funding was not equitable or the best use of significant resources given the risk of duplicating state public mental health services.
The ERG also recommended an expansion of services to young people with emerging severe mental illness, and the need to better integrate services into existing programme activity at the regional level.
What’s next
From July, PHNs will be able to commission early intervention support to young people with or at risk of severe mental illness in the primary care setting.
This will include someone with early psychosis and will also support young people with mental illnesses such as borderline personality disorder, eating disorders or severe forms of anxiety and depression.
July 2016 will see trials of co-ordinated care packages begin at a number of PNH lead sites, including regional service models and pathways for young people.
Existing EPYS centres will transition to the new regional service models over one to two years, and the transition plans for each centre will prioritise service continuity for existing clients to continue and complete their treatment.
What will happen top existing funding?
Funding is not being cut. The main transition arrangement for EPYS services is funding at 75% of current levels in 2016-17 and 30% of current levels in 2017-18.
I hope everyone reads to the last paragraph. When is a funding cut not a funding cut? Worthy of Yes Minister…
“Funding is not being cut. The main transition arrangement for EPYS services is funding at 75% of current levels in 2016-17 and 30% of current levels in 2017-18.”
So the expertise and experience built up in the existing Early Psychosis Services will be diluted across the PHNs. There is no guarantee that the existing clinicians will even be willing/able to uproot their lives and move to a new location. Once again ideology overwhelms reality.
It defies logic that this can be wrapped up by the Minister as somehow being progress?
It’s not good enough for Susan Ley to transfer the responsibility for commissioning mental health services to Primary Health Networks (PHNs) and talk up the amount of money allocated to this program without ensuring proper oversight of how the money will be spent.
Ms Ley needs to make sure that the PHNs are equipped and qualified to take on this important responsibility before they are handed millions of dollars and charged with the responsibility to ensure mental health services address local needs. The PHN where I work is demonstrably lacking suitably qualified personnel – there is not one person with relevant experience in the provision of mental health services and the CEO has no health, business or research qualifications whatsoever.
How can such an organisation possibly be expected to make an informed and responsible decision regarding the continuation of Headspace funding or the provision of alternative services?
It is reckless and irresponsible of Ms Ley to give money to PHNs without due diligence into their track record and capacity to achieve desired results.
I work at a PHN too. Constant exodus of talented, passionate staff mismanaged by someone bent on building their own monopoly. Are PHNs going to be correctly audited? Because I smell more corruption.
Are PHN’s covered by the Freedom of Information act or are they allowed to piss away taxpayers’ money with reckless abandon?
Perhaps Croakey could do an exposé and see which PHNs, if any, measure up?