Labor and the Coalition have committed to funding additional mental health services as part of their election pitches.

The Coalition agreed to match Labor’s $8.5 billion Medicare investment, and added another $400 million to expand mental health services. Labor responded this week by announcing a $1 billion mental health package if it is reelected.

A new webtool by advocacy group Australians for Mental Health shows what the out-of-pocket costs for mental health support are in different electorates, as well as rates of mental distress.

It says in Gippsland 10 percent of people experience high or very high mental distress and 17 percent of people have been diagnosed with a mental health condition.

We’ve checked out what political parties and candidates are saying ahead of the election. We will add to this story as required.

Labor

Labor's $1 billion package, announced on April 8, included $225 million for Medicare Mental Health Centres, over $200 million for Headspace services, $500 million for 20 Youth Specialist Care Centres for young people with complex needs, and $90 million for more than 1,200 training places for mental health professionals and peer workers.

The Coalition

The Coalition’s plan promises to expand early psychosis youth services so it covers 20 regions instead of the current eight, expand the capacity of existing Headspace centres, and reinstate 20 Medicare-funded psychology sessions, up from the current 10.

The Opposition would also expand the remit of the  National Centre for Excellence in Youth Mental Health to lead policy advice to the government, commission youth services and train professionals.

Candidates

Independent candidate for Monash, Deb Leonard, told the Gippsland Monitor that “there is an absolute desert of services in Monash”.

“We have no mental health acute beds in the entire electorate. There is only one youth mental health program, Headspace in Wonthaggi, which has a seven-month waiting list. It is simply not good enough,” she said.

Mary Aldred, the Liberal candidate for Monash, said that “only a Coalition Government will work to strengthen Medicare and ensure regional communities are not left behind”.