One Million Mental Health Services Provided
One million therapy sessions have been provided to people with a mental illness under the Access to Allied Psychological Services (ATAPS) program.
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Joint Release
The Hon Mark Butler MP
Minister for Mental Health and Ageing
Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Mental Health Reform
The Hon Steve Georganas MP
Member for Hindmarsh
13 December 2011One million therapy sessions have been provided to people with a mental illness under the Access to Allied Psychological Services (ATAPS) program.
Minister for Mental Health and Ageing Mark Butler and Member for Hindmarsh, Steve Georganas today visited Adelaide Western Division of General Practice to welcome the achievement, pointing out that around 260,000 Australians have benefited from ATAPS since its inception in 2003.
ATAPS provides mental health services for people diagnosed with a mental disorder of mild to moderate severity such as depression and anxiety.
ATAPS is particularly targeted at people who often miss out on Medicare-subsidised services – such as those less able to pay upfront fees, people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, people in rural and remote areas and culturally diverse communities.
“We have now provided 1 million services under the program, with improved outcomes in more than 86 per cent of cases,” Mr Butler said.
“This is a spectacular achievement and comes a day after the elevation of Mental Health to the Cabinet table. This demonstrates that the Gillard Labor Government is continuing to deliver on its promise to make mental health a priority.
“The data also clearly shows that ATAPS is successfully providing care and support for those Australians living with mental illness who need it the most.
“Around 50 per cent of patients under ATAPS are low income earners, 41 per cent live in rural and remote Australia, 23 per cent are male and three per cent are Indigenous Australians.”
The Gillard Labor Government is investing $205.9 million in this year’s record mental health budget to significantly boost the ATAPS program. As a result, funding for ATAPS in South Australia has risen from $3.7 million last financial year to more than $5.7 million this financial year.
Member for Hindmarsh, Steve Georganas welcomed the funding increase for his local community.
“Funding for the Adelaide Western Division of General Practice has increased by more than 96 per cent from $311,000 last financial year to $613,000 this financial year,” Mr Georganas said.
“This will mean that more people in Hindmarsh who are diagnosed with mental illness by their GP will be able to obtain the psychological treatment that they need – at low to no cost.”
“Since being elected in 2004, I have campaigned for better mental health services for our community. The huge increase in funding for local services shows we are delivering on our promise to make mental health a priority.”
In addition to the assistance provided to hard-to-reach groups, dedicated funding is also available to provide innovative services to people who have self harmed or attempted suicide or are at risk of suicide, Indigenous people, children and their families and women with perinatal depression.
Media contacts: Virginia Kim (Butler) 02 6277 7280
Hannah Frank (Georganas) 0419 849 048
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