At the beginning of the 2026 State Election campaign the MHCSA wrote to the major parties with a simple ask, $125 million annually in community-based psychosocial services to close the mental health gap. Right now we know there are 19,000 South Australians living with complex mental health challenges not receiving the support they need to live well in the community.
Our ask focuses on keeping people out of crisis and delivering support they need where they are. We have now seen multiple reports from both State and Federal Governments which endorse this, they clearly state invest in psychosocial supports now and not beds.
Two weeks out from election day we are reviewing the mental health policies and this is what we found.
SA Labor Party
“Labor Government will take to the election our plan to build the first ever South Australian specialised Mental Health Assessment Units next to the emergency departments at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Lyell McEwin Hospital and Noarlunga Hospital to help people experiencing a mental health crisis or drug or alcohol related issue.”
This policy sees purpose built mental health emergency units placed next to hospitals. The aim is to divert mental health patients into their own specialised unit.
The policy also refers to AIHW data which states “The most common reason people present to EDs for mental health care in SA is due to co-morbid drug or alcohol use.”
The MHCSA notes no policies to invest in drug and alcohol addiction services or preventative care in this area. You can read their policy here. This policy focuses on crisis and the Labor Party’s policies do not address investing in the psychosocial support gap to keep people out of crisis.
SA Liberal Party
“New mothers experiencing mental health crises will receive additional support under a Hurn Liberal Government, with a commitment to double the number of beds at Helen Mayo House.”
This promise from the SA Liberal Party sits within their broader policy that is part of their ‘plan for a better health system’. This policy will take the number of beds for new mothers at Helen Mayo House from 6 to 12. This promise includes a $20 million investment in planning and design, refurbishing existing space and improving operations at the facility. They will also expand telehealth triage and early-intervention pathways to help connect mothers with support and divert non-acute cases to community mental health services.
While the MHCSA welcomes expansion of this specialised intervention service and linkage to community mental health services and early intervention, we note that there appears to be no additional funding for these services. You can read their election promise here. The Liberal Party’s mental health policies do not include investing in the psychosocial support gap to keep people out of crisis.
SA Greens
“Currently, the Australian Government subsidises 10 sessions with a psychologist per year. We propose to double this amount by funding an additional 10 sessions for South Australians – taking the total to 20. This will cost $5 million over 4 years.”
They also promise to increase the remit and funding for Preventative Health SA. This includes additional funding to support patients with chronic health conditions.
The MHCSA notes there is no mention of mental health in the increase in funding for Preventative Health SA and this policy does not say how much the funding increase will be. You can read their policy here. The SA Greens’ mental health policies do not include investing in the psychosocial support gap to keep people out of crisis.
The MHCSA is the peak body for community mental health in SA. Our members are working at the coalface of mental health support for all South Australians. Multiple reports confirm what our members know and see, and these reports also support our election ask.
The 2023 Unmet Needs for Psychosocial Support Services report for South Australia and the National Unmet Needs report, confirmed the growing gap in psychosocial supports. The Productivity Commission’s recent review of the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement also concluded the current Federal and State Agreement for funding mental health services is not fit for purpose and while this is rectified, Governments must invest now in psychosocial supports.
