Last Night Hon Connie Bonaros in the Legislative Council moved a crucial motion regarding the findings of the “Unmet Needs” report, commissioned by the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist.
This report highlights the significant shortfall in psychosocial support services for South Australians with severe mental illness, estimating that 19,000 individuals annually do not receive the support they need to live well in the community. This alarming number reflects a substantial increase from previous estimates and underscores the ongoing failures in mental health policy from successive governments.
Despite acknowledging the urgent need for an estimated $125 million per year to address this gap, both the current and previous state budgets have not provided additional funding for psychosocial support.
The motion calls on the Malinauskas Labor government to formally respond to the report’s findings and recommendations by September 2025. Members of the Legislative Council stressed that psychosocial support is not merely clinical care, but essential for helping individuals manage daily life and avoid crises. The current system, heavily reliant on the NDIS, has left many people falling through the gaps and reveals systemic flaws that must be urgently addressed to ensure people receive the support they need for recovery and well-being.
We look forward to seeing the Government’s formal response.
You can read the full debate here.
