Suicide Prevention Australia welcomes NSW Government funding

Suicide Prevention Australia welcomes NSW Government funding

Suicide Prevention Australia, the national peak body for suicide prevention, welcomed today’s announcement of a $73 million investment in mental health by the NSW Government.

CEO Nieves Murray said that the investment in mental health workers will help the sector scale up and connect help to everyone who needs it.

“We’ve surveyed the mental health and suicide prevention sectors and the message is clear; we are seeing unprecedented demand for their services,” Ms Murray said.

“Our members have told us that technology is a crucially important enabler at this time when we’re physically distanced from each other,” she said.

“It’s great to see the Minister for Mental Health, the Hon. Bronnie Taylor MP, advocating for our sector and making sure that everyone can access the help they need during times of distress.”

“The NSW Government’s investment in new digital resources will mean more people can access the support they need to feel connected and less vulnerable to distress.”

The NSW Government’s mental health support package includes:

• Over 180 additional specialist, community-based mental health clinicians and peer support workers;
• Expanding the virtual mental health program to all local health districts;
• Free access to Tresillian’s digital SleepWellBaby program;
• Capacity for 60,000 extra calls to the 1800 NSW Mental Health Line;
• Creation of pop-up mental health Safe Space sites, reducing pressure on emergency departments.

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