Health data from the Productivity Commission’s 2020 Report on Government Services (RoG) has revealed that the ACT has the lowest rate of mental health-related emergency department presentations.
The RoG report found that 43 per cent of emergency department presentations were mental health-related in 2017-2018, well below the national average of 66.8 per cent.
“The ACT is leading the way in addressing the social and economic factors of mental health and wellbeing,” the Minister for Mental Health, Shane Rattenbury. Said.
“A key achievement over this period has been the launch of the Office for Mental Health and Wellbeing in June 2018, which promotes and coordinates whole-of-government action towards improving mental health and wellbeing amongst Canberrans,” he said.
The RoG also found the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population using specialist public mental health services in the ACT was 9.4 per cent, with non-Indigenous Canberrans making up 2.5 per cent – the highest for both demographics in Australia.
“These results show that although we have more people seeking help for mental health illnesses in Canberra, our mental health services are more responsive in providing support,” Mr Rattenbury said.
“However, we know there is always more work to do to continue to improve our services to ensure the right services are available at the right time, and for those who need it most,” he said.
