Today’s reshuffle of the Albanese Ministry is an opportunity to make mental health a top priority, according to a leading grassroots mental health advocacy group.  

 “Mental health is in crisis and that crisis demands a whole-of-government response” said Chris Gambian, Executive Director of Australians for Mental Health.   

“Mental health is not just a matter for the health minister: if government is serious about tackling this crisis it needs to look deep into the opportunity and risk in every portfolio to drive change”  

“It is impossible to have good mental health without secure housing.  Minister Clare O’Neil has an enormous role to play in alleviating mental harm and creating the conditions for mental health to thrive”  

“Likewise, Australians desperately need Minister Watt to drive the cultural change in workplaces needed to address the blow-out in psychosocial injury at work”.  

Australians for Mental Health has proposed to the Federal Government a series of measures aimed at dismantling the policies, structures, attitudes and behaviours that cause mental harm, and reshaping Australia so that mental health thrives.  

Among the proposals designed to facilitate a whole-of-government response to the mental health crisis, Australians for Mental Health has called for:  

• Creation of a dedicated Mental Health and Wellbeing Commissioner in the Australian Human Rights Commission to hold government to account for its actions;  

• Assessment of the mental health impact of proposed policies, laws and budget measures;  
• Setting national mental health and wellbeing targets for governments at all levels to work towards and measure up against.  

“Australia’s mental health needs a response that befits the crisis we are in.  That means every Minister from the Prime Minister down looking for opportunities to drive mental wellbeing, challenging those norms that are causing harm, and being accountable for mental health outcomes”  

“We wish the new Albanese Ministry every success and stand ready to work with the government to ensure every Australian is able to live their best lives” Gambian said.  

CONTACT: Chris Gambian 0438 898 198 

About Australians for Mental Health: 

Australians for Mental Health was founded in 2014 to campaign for fundamental change in the way the country thinks and acts about mental health. Our mission is to ensure that Australia starts putting mental health at the heart of our national life.