Ministers Fail to Act on Psychosocial Support – 460,000 Australians Still Left Without Help
The Mental Illness Fellowship of Australia (MIFA) is deeply disappointed by the failure of Health and Mental Health Ministers to address the urgent and ongoing gap in community-based psychosocial supports.
At their meeting on Friday 13 June 2025, Ministers chose to maintain the status quo, despite knowing that around 460,000 Australians living with moderate to high mental health needs are currently unable to access the supports they need to live well in the community.
It has been nine months since the Unmet Needs report was released—yet governments have taken no meaningful action to meet their commitments under the National Agreement on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention. They have not agreed on funding responsibilities, nor have they invested in existing services while planning for the future.
MIFA CEO Tony Stevenson said:
It beggars belief that governments are choosing not to act, despite knowing the scale of unmet need. People with mental health challenges in Australia have already waited six years. That’s six years too long.
MIFA continues to call for urgent action:
- Immediate expansion of existing community-based psychosocial support services
- Clear funding arrangements for new investment
- Lived experience leadership in co-design of future supports
- A firm commitment to close the psychosocial support gap by 2030
Without action, people with severe mental health challenges will continue to face poorer health outcomes, isolation, homelessness, and cycles of hospitalisation or contact with the justice system.
This is not acceptable. People must not pay the price for inaction.
Read the full media release