ACT Labor will use R U OK? Day to announce that if re-elected it will invest over $200 million to support youth mental health.
In a statement, Chief Minister Andrew Barr said that a recent ACT government survey found that more than half of young Canberrans surveyed said the quality of mental health services in the ACT was "fair" or "poor".
"Right now, our city needs a progressive, experienced government that has the right plan to support our city through this pandemic" Mr Barr said.
The funding would go towards increasing mental health beds and creating an intensive trauma service for teenagers.
It will also support Orygen Digital's youth mental health online platform MOST, a social media app for young people who have accessed mental health services.
"These investments come on top of the significant investments being made to support Canberrans mental health during COVID-19," he said.
Orygen executive director Professor Patrick McGorry has welcomed the funding commitment and said mental health needed more investment and modernisation across Australia.
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"Mental health care all around Australia has been the poor cousin that has been under invested in," Professor McGorry said.
"We respectfully call upon the opposition to also embrace this evidence based piece of reform and make it a bipartisan commitment like mental health always needs to be."
Julia Kanapathippillai
I like writing fascinating stories about Canberra. If you have a tip or a story email julia.k@austcommunitymedia.com.au
I like writing fascinating stories about Canberra. If you have a tip or a story email julia.k@austcommunitymedia.com.au
