The National Mental Health Commission (Commission) collaborated with Monash University to provide the most comprehensive economic modeling and evaluation of mental health interventions undertaken in Australia.
This work builds on the Commission’s core function of providing independent, evidence-based advice to government.
The project will run over the next 18 months. Contribute to future investment decisions by providing a clearer and stronger evidence base to guide future planning and reform.
The aim of this project is to show which mental health services offer the greatest benefits and where future government investment should be directed.
This project will strengthen the economic evidence needed to better understand a wide range of mental health interventions and which priority interventions deliver the strongest outcomes for people and communities across Australia. ”
David McGrath, CEO, National Mental Health Commission
“Making our systems more effective and increasing accountability for public funds is a key focus, especially as governments begin to develop the next National Agreement on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention.”
This project reflects the Commission’s important role in ensuring Australia’s mental health system continues to progress to meet the needs of communities, improve lives and provide people with confidence that the help they need is always within reach.
Project lead professor Kathy Michalopoulos, from Monash University’s School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, said the project would identify cost-effective opportunities to improve the mental health of Australian communities.
“We know that people in the mental health system often struggle to get the care they need, so it’s important that we look at efficiencies and improvements.” Professor Michalopoulos said:
“Policy makers and service planners have a huge challenge to ensure that available public funds are spent to best meet the needs of both those who use the system, as well as those who need care but currently do not.”.
This project will generate high-quality evidence to guide ongoing national mental health reform while strengthening system-wide reporting, monitoring, and accountability.
This approach is consistent with the Productivity Commission’s recommendations to improve understanding of the effectiveness of mental health services and increase accountability for spending.
The project will be implemented in two phases.
- Phase 1 will map existing evidence, identify gaps, and develop model plans for priority mental health interventions not currently supported by strong economic evaluations.
- Phase 2 will carry out detailed economic modeling of the selected interventions to assess their cost-effectiveness and long-term social and economic impact. Implications of the findings for the future design of mental health systems are also suggested.
Initial findings are expected later this year, with a final report due in 2027.
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National Mental Health Commission
