Independent policy analyst Martyn Goddard releases report on the state of mental health services in Tasmania

Tasmanians are being prescribed more antidepressants than the national average, a report finds. The analyst behind the study believes changes made 50 years ago is the reason why.

mental health failure stock photo.

The man behind a new report says that Tasmania’s suicide and antidepressant use rates are the highest in the country.

And he wants to see the way mental health services are delivered in the state changed.

Hobart-based independent policy analyst Martyn Goddard has released a new report called the “State of Mental Health”.

In the report, Mr Goddard said that 19 per cent of Tasmanians were being prescribed antidepressants – compared to 14 per cent nationally.

“According to the OECD, Australia’s antidepressant consumption rate is the fourth-highest in the world,” he said.

“If Tasmania was a nation, it would be the third highest, behind only Iceland and Portugal.”

Health policy analyst Martyn Goddard at Hobart. Picture: Chris Kidd

Mr Goddard said the deinstitutionalisation of mental health that began 50 years ago “has delivered much worse care, weakened and fragmented the provision of services while failing to deliver anticipated cost savings”.

“But returning to the patterns of 50 years ago is not practical or desirable. Those old buildings had outlived their time.

“But we need to return to a time in which people with mental illness could find a welcoming, peaceful therapeutic environment with adequate and capable care.”

Mr Goddard said the focus should be on constructing “specialised mental health precincts surrounded by gardens, which are themselves therapeutic.”

“These would include a full range of services for acute care (including for seriously ill patients), facilities for older people, child and adolescent units, outpatient consultations and training areas.

“In all three regions of Tasmania, community-based therapy and support need urgent and substantial enlargement and enhancement.

“Specialised social housing and other residential facilities are inadequate and need to be expanded.”

Minister for Community Services, Aboriginal Affairs, Children and Youth, Roger Jaensch at the estimates in parliament. Picture: Linda Higginson.

Mental Health and Wellbeing Minister Roger Jaensch said the government was improving services statewide.

“The Tasmanian Government continues to invest significantly in infrastructure projects and services right across the state, worth more than $240m, to support the mental health and wellbeing of Tasmanians,” Mr Jaensch said

“This includes a new mental health precinct, along with a new Older Persons Mental Health Unit at St John’s Park in New Town, a new mental health precinct on a greenfield site at the North West Regional Hospital and $90 million for a new mental health precinct opposite the Launceston General Hospital.”