The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) has reviewed and compared commitments from major parties in the last term of Parliament and found that no party has made care for Australians with the most severe and complex mental illnesses a priority.

Despite repeated warnings and a critical and chronic psychiatrist shortage, neither the Federal Government nor the Coalition has committed to dedicated policies for expand access to specialist mental health care amid rising demand.

A pre-election scorecard released by RANZCP reviewing major party commitments has shown that there is no clear strategy from any major party to grow the specialist workforce or expand access to psychiatric care.

RANZCP President Dr Elizabeth Moore said the past few years have exposed the devastating impact of a broken mental health system, yet meaningful reform remains missing from political debate.

“Psychiatrists are medical doctors specialising in mental illness, responsible for treating people with the full spectrum of conditions—especially the most acutely unwell. Without them, the system cannot function, yet it's being forced to pretend it can.

“Hundreds of vulnerable Australians are missing out on the care they need, but no party has stepped up with a real plan to fix it,” Dr Moore said.

Last year, over 500 psychiatrists signed an open letter to Minister Mark Butler, warning that workforce shortages were putting patients at risk, after hundreds of RANZCP members said they felt the shortages were compromising patient care. 

“Yet, nothing was done and nothing changed,” Dr Moore said.

Every year, one in five Australians experiences a mental health condition, poor mental health is the leading reason people visit their GP, and emergency department presentations for mental illness triaged as ‘emergency’ have more than doubled in the past 15 years.

The most common mental health conditions experienced by Australians include anxiety disorders, mood disorders and substance use disorders – all that often require specialist care beyond that which primary mental health services can provide.

“Psychiatrists across the country are seeing waitlists grow, emergency departments overwhelmed, and people presenting with more complex conditions that take longer and cost more to treat.

“Public hospitals are under constant pressure, and private hospitals offering psychiatric services are shutting their doors. For many Australians, help remains too far away, too long a wait, too expensive, or simply unavailable.

"Despite repeated warnings, mental health continues to be treated as a subset of general health policy, with no plan to strengthen specialist mental health services."

RANZCP is urging all major parties to address psychiatrist shortages, make specialist care more affordable, and boost funding for child and adolescent mental health services ahead of the upcoming Federal Election.

“Specialist mental health care is a core service, not an optional extra. 

“We need more than vague commitments and piecemeal funding – our mental health system is at breaking point, and without urgent action to bolster all parts of our mental health system, Australians will continue to fall through its growing cracks,” Dr Moore said.

You can view the RANZCP pre-election scorecard below.

ENQUIRIES: For more information, or to arrange an interview call Dishi Gahlowt on +61 437 315 911 or email media@ranzcp.org.  

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists is a membership organisation that prepares medical specialists in the field of psychiatry, supports and enhances clinical practice, advocates for people affected by mental illness and advises governments and other groups on mental health care. For information about our work, our members or our history, visit www.ranzcp.org.

In Australia: If you or someone you know needs help, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or www.lifeline.org.au or the Suicide Callback Service on 1300 659 467 or www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au.

In New Zealand: If you or someone you know needs help, contact Lifeline NZ on 0800 543 354 or www.lifeline.org.nz or the Suicide Crisis Helpline on 0508 828 865 or www.lifeline.org.nz/suicide-prevention.