Fixing the NDIS won’t help the one in five Australians living with these challenges
Reforming the NDIS is important, but it does not address the broader mental health crisis affecting one in five Australians. The current mental health system is underfunded and fails to support those with moderate to severe conditions who fall between primary care and acute hospital services. Unlike the NDIS, there is no clear national strategy to fix systemic gaps in mental health care.
- ▪More than 800,000 Australians live with a severe mental illness, such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder.
- ▪One in five Australians aged 16 to 85 experiences a mental health challenge each year that requires care and support.
- ▪People with schizophrenia live on average 20 years less than the general population, and suicide rates remain high.
- ▪A significant gap in mental health care exists for those with complex needs who do not qualify for hospitalization or primary care support.
- ▪The division of responsibilities between the Commonwealth and state governments complicates efforts to create a unified mental health strategy.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at The Sydney Morning Herald.