1,000 signatures reached
To: Ministers Paul Fletcher and Greg Hunt
Save our mental health services!
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There is a crisis unfolding in community mental health services right now.
The Federal Government is in the process of shutting down 3 of its most important and successful community mental health programs. Mental health workers around the country are being laid off as the programs are defunded, and services are shutting their doors.
The Government has announced funding to extend the timeframe for people to transition to the NDIS – However, the vast majority of people supported by these Government programs are ineligible to access the NDIS, meaning that thousands of people needing critical mental health support will be left without any support.
There is inadequate funding and support available for new consumers who need mental health support – these people will be left with nowhere to go.
We call on the Federal Government to urgently commit to fund its community mental health programs for at least 3 years rather than shutting these programs down now, and work with mental health providers, consumers and workers to develop long-term arrangements that ensure that consumers who need community mental health support and the workforce have certainty.
Why is this important?
If the Federal Coalition Government fails to immediately commit to fund community mental health programs for at least 3 years and fix the massive funding gap that has caused this crisis – the whole community is going to suffer.
Thousands of experienced mental health workers will lose their jobs. Tens of thousands of people with mental health issues will be left without any support and nowhere to go.
It’s a crisis, and it’s happening now. Sign the petition and share. We need every signature to call on the Government to fix this crisis. It cannot wait.