The Mental Health Branch is the lead agency responsible for coordinating whole-of-government policy development and implementation in the area of mental health.
The work of Mental Health is driven by the key strategic directions for NSW Health. These include:
The NSW State Health Plan reflects the health priorities in the NSW Government's State Plan with strategies based on evidence of what works and challenging targets set for the future. The State Health Plan identifies mental health as a priority area.
The Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan and the supporting Implementation Plan was endorsed in 2017 by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Health Council members. The plan builds on the foundation established by previous national mental health plans and reform efforts. It describes a cross-jurisdictional framework for implementing national action over the next five years with targeted action across eight priority areas.
The Minister for Mental Health, the Hon Rose Jackson MLC, formally requested that NSW Health undertake, in partnership with the NSW Alliance for Mental Health, an analysis of NSW community mental health services to identify key priorities and provide direction for the NSW health system.
A Project Steering Group was established and included representation from the NSW Alliance for Mental Health, a member of the NSW Mental Health Commission with Lived Experience, and the (former) commissioner, NSW Mental Health Commission.
There was extensive consultation across the mental health sector and with local health districts, specialty health networks and pillar agencies.
The NSW Community Mental health Services Priority Issues Paper (Gap Analysis Report) consolidates extensive publicly available data and resources and identifies four key priority areas:
The Report will be a valuable resource to assist the Ministry of Health in determining ongoing priorities for our mental health consumers, their families and carers.
The Ministry of Health would like to acknowledge the contribution from all stakeholders in developing the Report including mental health peak bodies representing mental health consumers, carers, community managed organisations, local health districts and specialty health networks and pillar agencies.
Download Gap Analysis Report
The Housing and Mental Health Agreement 2022 (HMHA 2022) is a commitment that NSW Health and the Department of Communities and justice (DCJ) will work together and with key stakeholders to achieve a shared vision that people with mental illness have:
The objectives of HMHA 2022 are to:
The Strategic Framework for Suicide Prevention in NSW 2022-2027 continues the journey towards zero suicides in NSW. It sets out the state's priorities for further coordinating, integrating and investing in suicide prevention activities, while building on what is already in place.
The Framework has been developed by the NSW Mental Health Commission and the NSW Ministry of Health in collaboration with people with lived experience of a suicide attempt or suicide bereavement, government agencies, mental health organisations and experts in suicide prevention.
The Framework has been written to inspire, drive and coordinate a whole-of-government response to suicide prevention in NSW. It has been informed by extensive consultation with people with lived or living experience of suicidal distress, people caring for someone through suicidal crisis, people who are bereaved by suicide, and people from across the suicide prevention sector.
The NSW Strategic Framework and Workforce Plan for Mental Health 2018-2022: A Framework and Workforce Plan for NSW Health Services provides overarching guidance for NSW Health strategic action over the next five years. Strategic actions aim to improve the mental health and wellbeing of people with lived experience of mental illness, the experience of care for their families, carers and supporters and staff experiences.
The Implementation Plan for the NSW Strategic Framework and Workforce Plan for Mental Health 2018-2022 guides the Mental Health Branch and partner organisations on key elements of implementation required to achieve the goals over the next five years. An accompanying Excel Implementation Plan has been developed. The Excel document provides more details information on all actions for implementation and related performance measures.
The NSW Strategic Framework and Workforce Plan (The Plan) comprises actions arising from the NSW Mental Health Reform in response to recommendations in Living Well: A Strategic Plan for Mental Health in NSW 2014-2024.
It provides the overarching framework for NSW Health action in mental health from 2018- 2022 and responds to recommendations in recent reviews including:
This document is the first progress report of the Plan and provides an overview of state-wide and local achievements, including by NSW Health local health districts (LHDs), speciality health networks (SHNs), Ministry of Health branches, pillars and other NSW Health organisations.
It is intended to be considered and shared for the purpose of continuous quality improvement. The 2019 progress report will support NSW Health and partner organisations in the consistent planning, funding and implementation of actions to realise improvements in service efficiencies and consumer outcomes.
The NSW Aboriginal Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2020-2025 supports NSW Health services to plan and deliver culturally safe, accessible, responsive and flexible mental health and wellbeing care in partnership with Aboriginal people and communities.
The overarching of the Strategy is for all Aboriginal people of NSW to have access to holistic and culturally safe services that provide the best opportunity for improved mental health and social and emotional wellbeing.
This strategy is the foundation for change that will support a future way of working. It reflects the NSW Government's commitment to closing the gap between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people in NSW.
The strategy is supported by three goals:
These goals are based on the NSW Strategic Framework and Workforce Plan for Mental Health 2018-2022 and align with the NSW Health vision of a sustainable health system that delivers outcomes that matter to patients, is personalised, invests in wellness and is digitally enabled.
The strategy provides clear direction to NSW health services on: