80pc psychiatrists plan to leave NSW hospitals as mental health ‘catastrophe’ worsens

Only 2 in 10 psychiatrists plan to stay in NSW after they finish their training, in a shocking trend that experts say will lead to a ‘mental health catastrophe’.

Just two out of every 10 psychiatrists being trained in the NSW public mental health system are planning on remaining in the state, as experts warn of a looming professional exodus that will create a “mental health catastrophe” in our hospitals.

The concerning trend was found in surveys conducted by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists that have been sent to the NSW government to highlight the crisis. 

Another 43 per cent of psychiatrists said they planned on leaving the public sector in the next 12 months while a further 30 per cent said they were undecided on staying if they did not get a pay rise.

The College said NSW doctors were being paid up to 25 to 30 per cent less than their Victorian and Queensland colleagues.

Experts have raised the alarm bells over the findings, in light of a spate of horrific incidents in Sydney at the hands of individuals with severe mental illnesses.

Mental health professionals are in short supply in NSW. Picture: iStock

The attacker in the horrific Bondi Junction massacre had a lengthy history of schizophrenia, while a Blue Mountains mum who allegedly stabbed her two sons to death had a history of post-natal depression and post traumatic stress disorder.

RANZCP NSW chair Dr Pramudie Gunaratne said the trend was a result of decades of neglect and under-investment.

“We would be outraged if this happened in any other sector of our health system, if people having heart attacks could not access cardiologists or people with cancer could not see oncologists,” she said.

“There are so many people with acute, severe mental illnesses that are being let down by the current system.”

Dr Gunaratne said NSW had the lowest per capita spend on mental health across all states and the chronic underfunding was driving psychiatrists away. 

Mental Health Rose Jackson Minister. Picture: Nikki Short

“Across the board there is no meaningful plan to expand this funding,” she said.

“People are leaving and it makes it very challenging for the people being left behind in the mental health sector.

“We are at a tipping point, if the government doesn’t make plans for serious investment, then what we are going to see is a real catastrophe.”

NSW Mental Health Minister Rose Jackson was grilled on the impending psychiatrist exodus during state budget estimates last week. 

“I’m aware of surveys done by the college of psychiatrists ... and I’m aware they indicate there is a challenge in attracting newly graduated psychiatrists to work in NSW,” she said.

“I meet regularly with the College of Psychiatrists and I’m well aware (of the issue) ... it’s costing us bucketloads of locums, which is not an ideal situation.”

Ms Jackson said Health Minister Ryan Park was currently in award negotiations with the sector to find a compromise on calls for a pay rise. 

“There is a formal process that is being engaged in,” she said.

“We are (also) doing a range of non award positions to attract and retain staff.”

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Originally published as 80pc psychiatrists plan to leave NSW hospitals as mental health ‘catastrophe’ worsens