Inquiry flags more action on mental health

A cross-party committee says better coordination and more affordable services are needed to improve mental health and suicide prevention.

An interim report by a federal parliamentary committee looking into the issue said coordination between levels of government had arisen as an issue to be addressed.

"A gap has been identified in coordination, funding and communication between Commonwealth, state and territory governments relating to mental health services," the report said.

As well, affordability was a "significant and ongoing barrier" to accessing mental health services.

The inquiry heard one of the most challenging aspects of the system was the gap payment associated with any Medicare Benefits Schedule rebate.

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare just over $10.5 billion a year is spent on mental health-related services in Australia.

While the amount spent on mental health continues to grow, the split in spending by the federal government, state and territory governments, and private health insurance has remained relatively stable at around 35 per cent, 60 per cent and five per cent respectively.

Another key issue is the distribution of registered mental health professionals both geographically and across specialities.

The committee was concerned that in addition to identified workforce shortages in regional and remote Australia "there also appear to be acute shortages in fast growing population areas within Australia's capital cities".

With a final report and recommendations not due until November, the committee said it had received a number of submissions looking at whether clinical services are the best approach.

Submitters had called for further review of the trend towards mental health 'hubs' and specifically in relation to accessibility, the level of funding required to establish and maintain them, staff turnover, financial remuneration and funding model reliance on bulk-billed Medicare rebates.

The committee said it was also looking at making recommendations in relation to telehealth, the stigma faced by people with mental illness and the best types of early intervention.