According to the World Health Organisation mental health is a ‘state of wellbeing in which every individual realises their full potential, can cope with normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and make a contribution to their community. Australia’s Health 2020 report shows one in five Australians have a mental health condition (https://newsroom.unsw.edu.au/…/australia%E2%80%99s…).
Between 16 March 2020 and 24 January 2021, almost 11.5 million Medical Benefit Schedule (MBS)-subsidised mental health-related services were provided. The use of telehealth MBS mental health services peaked at the end of April 2020 when half of the MBS mental health services were provided remotely.
In the four weeks to 24 January, 2021
• Lifeline received more than 85,000 calls – an increase of 10% and 21.4% from the four weeks to January 2020 and 27 January 2019.
• Beyond Blue received more than 22,000 contacts – an increase of 27.2% and 29.6% from the four weeks to 26 January 2020 and 27 January 2019 respectively.
• Kids Helpline received almost 23,000 answerable contact attempts (a decrease of 8.7% and an increase of 1.3% from the four weeks to 26 January 2020 and 27 January 2019 respectively.
In 2020 the number of suspected or confirmed deaths by suicide in NSW was 896, Victoria 698, and Queensland 777 – similar to 2019.$10.6 billion was spent on mental health in 2018 – 19 and 4.3 million people received mental health-related prescriptions in 2018 – 19. ( https://www.aihw.gov.au/…/mental-health-services…/data)
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