Key facts:

Real government recurrent expenditure of around $8.5 billion was allocated to mental health services in 2015‑16, equivalent to $355 per person in the population. State and Territory governments made the largest contribution ($5.4 billion or 63.1 per cent, which includes Australian Government funding under the NHRA), with Australian Government expenditure of $3.1 billion.

In 2015-16, 1.8 per cent of the total population received State and Territory governments’ specialised mental health services (including inpatient/admitted care in hospitals, community based ambulatory care and community based residential care) and 9.6 per cent of the total population received MBS/DVA subsidised mental health services.

Mental health services aim to promote mental health and wellbeing, and where possible prevent the development of mental health problems, mental illness and suicide, and when mental health problems and illness do occur, reduce the impact (including the effects of stigma and discrimination), promote recovery and physical health and encourage meaningful participation in society, by providing services that:

• are high quality, safe and responsive to consumer and carer goals
• facilitate early detection of mental health issues and mental illness, followed by appropriate intervention
• are coordinated and provide continuity of care
• are timely, affordable and readily available to those who need them
• are sustainable.

Governments aim for mental health services to meet these objectives in an equitable and efficient manner.