John Mendoza Joins Mental Health Assessment Company

Perth, 14 December 2010

John Mendoza

Former Chair of the National Advisory Council on Mental Health, John Mendoza, is to join the Board of Global Mind Screen Group, a leading mental health assessment company.

"We are delighted that John has decided to join our Board and support Global Mind Screen's goal of making a difference to the mental health of Australians through early assessment," said Marshall Couper, Chief Executive Officer of Global Mind Screen Group. "John's passion for mental health and deep understanding of the issues faced by all mental health stakeholders, including practitioners, patients, carers, industry groups and policy makers will produce tangible benefits to our company.

Echoing sentiments conveyed throughout the year by 2010 Australian of the Year Patrick McGorry, Adj Professor Mendoza reaffirmed the importance of early intervention in mental health. "Early inervention is the key to reducing the burden on the health system and improving mental health outcomes for patients, but to achieve early intervention you must first have early assessment. The Mind Screen's unique multi-disorder assessment capability helps practitioners to accurately diagnose and make early intervention a reality," commented John Mendoza.

The federal government says it is spending more than ever before on mental health services

The federal government says it is spending more than ever before on mental health services but admits it can do better.
Mental Health Minister Mark Butler said the National Mental Health Report 2010 showed total mental health spending by governments and private insurers rose by 10 per cent in real terms to $5.32 billion.

The report incorporates data for 2007-08, covering the final period of the former government and the first seven months of Labor.

Mr Butler said this 10 per cent increase was the largest since the National Mental Health Strategy began in 1993.

He said the federal government had made significant investments in mental health services, nearly tripling funding to $1.4 billion to specific mental health programs over the next three years.

'We know however there is more to do,' he said in a statement.

'We will be taking into account the lessons that have been learned from the previous National Mental Health Plans, and we intend to do better.'

The report says total federal and state government spending on mental health increased by 137 per cent between 1993 and 2008.

Australian government spending increased by 201 per cent, equivalent to $1.3 billion, while state and territory government spending increased by 110 per cent, or $1.7 billion.

Mr Butler said the report showed the number of hospital beds for mental health patients increased by eight per cent from 2003 to 2008, reversing the steady decline of the previous 10 years.

Growth of the clinical mental health workforce accelerated between 2003 and 2008, he said.