Here’s how each major party plans to address Australia’s growing mental health crisis and provide more accessible and affordable mental health care to Aussies of all ages. 

As we inch closer to the Federal election scheduled to take place on May 3rd, Aussies are being bombarded with messages from all hopeful candidates. 

Hot on their campaign trails this week, both the Labor Party and the Coalition are promising an array of changes if elected into government, addressing nationwide concerns such as housing, the rising cost of living and ways to improve our healthcare system. 

Just two months ago, the Labor Party pledged $573 million towards women’s health reform if reelected into government, with some elements of their plan to make a range of women’s health services more affordable and accessible being rolled out immediately. 

Before long, the Liberal Party responded with a similar pledge to address women’s health concerns, bringing topics such as contraception, pain management, fertility and menopause management to the centre of public discussion.

But as overdue as women’s health concerns are for receiving federal attention, it’s not the only health crisis currently impacting Astralians’ quality of life. 

Now more than ever, psychological stress is growing as Australians battle the rising cost of living, increased workloads, the impact of social media, rising global political tensions and housing affordability issues. 

However, the ever-increasing mental health crisis is currently being met with a healthcare system lacking in adequate support and services. 

Now, as the race to the federal election heats up, Labor and the Coalition are making their stances on Australia’s mental health crisis clear. 

Not sure who to vote for in this coming election? Here’s what you need to know about each party’s stance on mental health and what they plan to do to provide more accessible and affordable mental health care to Aussies of all ages. 

What is the Coalition promising?

According to the coalition, a Dutton government, if elected, would invest $400 million into improving Australia’s mental healthcare, focussing largely on youth mental health.

Their plan aims to address the "missing middle" – those with mental health concerns greater than mild mental illness, but not serious enough to require hospital admission. People considered to be a part of the “missing middle" are those with eating disorders, early psychosis and personality disorders. 

With providing support to these individuals and young Australians the major focus of the Coalition’s approach, the proposed Dutton government has promised to reinstate 20 Medicare-subsidised psychology sessions per year – a COVID-era policy that has since been reduced to 10. 

The coalition also wishes to expand the capacity of existing headspace centres, offering free support to people aged 12 to 25. In addition to this, the proposed Dutton government has promised to increase early psychosis youth services to cover 20 regions (only 8 are currently covered). These new clinics will be staffed by social workers, psychiatrists and psychologists to diagnose and treat people suffering from more complex conditions. 

Lastly, continuing on from Mr Dutton's tenure as health minister in 2014, the coalition promises to expand the remit of the  National Centre for Excellence in Youth Mental Health  to commission youth services, train professionals and lead policy advice to the government.

What is the Labor Party promising?

The Albanese government has pledged $1 billion to improve mental health services nationwide, sharing proposed policies that are relatively broader than the coalition’s youth-focused promises. 

Albanese’s Labor government has pledged to open and upgrade 31 Medicare Mental Health Centres across the country, providing free drop-in care to Australians in need. They will also open or upgrade 58 58 Headspace services, bringing the total to 229. 

Labor has also pledged to provide more than 1,200 training places for mental health professionals and peer workers, addressing the lack of available support for people in the industry. 

Like the coalition, the Labor Party has also promised to address the complex concerns of the "missing middle" by opening 20 youth specialist care centres for young people. 

Are these promises enough?

While it’s great to see both major parties prioritising Australia’s growing mental health crisis ahead of the election, and their approaches are similar in many ways, there are a few notable differences between their policies. 

The Labour Party is very much focused on increasing the number of Medicare Mental Health Centres and training, while the proposed Dutton government hopes to reinstate 20 subsidised psychology sessions to help people address their concerns.

But according to Dr Astha Tomar, president of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists, both parties are falling short when it comes to supporting middle-aged and older Australians. 

“It's a whole life journey … access to specialist care doesn't stop just because you turn 25. It's also about what happens later," she tells the ABC.

In order to adequately address the mental health needs of all Australians, Dr Tomar says a much bigger investment is needed by whichever government ends up in office, "A commitment of $1 billion is a really good start but we really need $20 billion. We need visionary leaders who would make that commitment and I know it won't happen overnight but it should," she says.

In response to both parties’ promises, Mental Health Australia is urging both Labor and the coalition to commit to providing free psychological therapies for those under the age of 25. Suicide Prevention Australia is also calling for the elected government to commit to funding the national suicide prevention strategy before we head to the polls.