QMHC Commissioner Ivan Frkovic has told a Federal parliamentary inquiry that we need to find different front doors for the mental health system, rather than emergency departments.
Mr Frkovic was appearing before the House of Representatives Select Committee on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention.
“We need to keep in mind that emergency departments were never built for mental health.”
Mr Frkovic also spoke about the importance of early intervention.
“The only way to stem the pressure on services is for us to continue to develop our prevention and early intervention capability, which must have a whole-of-government and cross-sector focus, not just a health focus.
“Some of our greatest potential for positive impact is building mental health and wellbeing in the settings of everyday life, that is, where people live, where they work, where they learn and where they play.
“The return (on) investment for focusing on prevention and early intervention is particularly compelling in the first stages of life.”
The Committee’s final report is due to be presented by 1 November 2021.
Read the Hansard transcript
