Mental health spend in cities
OTHER than facilities in Orange, Dubbo and Goulburn, the NSW Government's self-described commitment to mental health in this week's budget has ignored regional NSW.
"The majority of this funding is for metropolitan areas and does little to improve infrastructure for mental health facilities or promote initiatives in regional areas outside the Central West," said Grafton mental health campaigner Felicity Watson.
Minister for Mental Health Kevin Humphries said the Government would spend $1.4 billion on mental health services in the 2012-13 Budget which, he said, was a record investment in the sector.
A NSW Mental Health Commission will be established, with $30 million over three years, including $8.3 million this year.
Major funding initiatives for the 2012-13 Budget include $65.6 million for new mental health services at Hornsby Hospital, Sydney Children's Hospital, Orange Mental Health, Nepean Mental Health, Prince of Wales Hospital and the Chisholm Ross Centre, Goulburn and sub-acute services in south-western Sydney and Dubbo Hospital.
