Two Albury residents will help lead a taskforce to “end the madness” of a national health crisis in the lead-up to the federal election.
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The Australians For Mental Health (AFMH) campaign is demanding action from all political parties to address the chronic shortage of funding and services for mental health in Australia.
Annette and Stuart Baker have joined the community taskforce of AFMH, which launched earlier this week ahead of World Suicide Prevention Day on Thursday.
Former Australian of the Year Professor Patrick McGorry said for too long Australians living with mental ill health had been neglected by successive governments.
As one of the founders of AFMH, he said action was needed to solve the crisis.
“The situation is dire,” Professor McGorry said.
“Seven Australians take their life each day, 200 attempt to and around half of all Australians will experience some form of mental ill-health in their lifetimes.
“Incredibly less than 7 per cent of health expenditure is devoted to mental health.”
Professor McGorry said it was time all sides of politics recognised the fact people deserved the same level of care for their mental health as their physical health.
“This is a crisis and this is madness because this crisis is solvable,” he said.
Mr Baker said the professor had invited them to be part of the campaign in recognition of the Border’s successful grassroots efforts to break down the stigma of suicide and mental ill-health.
The aim of the national campaign is to provide a united voice for every Australian affected, directly or indirectly, by mental ill-health, to advocate for change.
The Bakers are part of a 20-member community taskforce driving the movement, all with a broad range of experiences of mental ill-health and the health system.
A growing group of mental-health organisations has also pledged their support for the AFMH campaign.
But ultimately, Professor McGorry said, the campaign was about empowering individuals because “we all share the burden of a mental health care system in crisis”.
To lend your support go to www.australiansformentalhealth.org.au
