​The NSW Government is investing a record $10.9 billion over the next four years, including $2.6 billion in 2021-22 for mental health services to continue important work that supports people in need across the state.

Treasurer Dominic Perrottet announced the funding today as part of the 2021-2022 State Budget.

“This funding focuses on improving the lives of people living in NSW with mental illness by delivering better care both in hospitals and in the community, by providing support for individuals, carers and wider family” Mr Perrottet said.

Minister for Mental Health Bronnie Taylor said this vital funding will continue and expand proven programs in the mental health space.

“After the extraordinary events over the last two years, including unprecedented drought, floods, pandemic and now the mice plague, mental health funding is more important than ever – especially in our regions,” Mrs Taylor said.

“There is an increasing need for more specialised treatment for children and teenagers. The funding of 25 ‘Safeguards’ – Child and Adolescent Mental Health Response Teams - is a game changer for our clinicians and families. “

Key highlights of the 2021-22 Mental Health Budget include:

• $109.5 million over four years to develop 25 ‘Safeguards’ – Child and Adolescent Mental Health Response Teams across NSW to provide services to children and teenagers with moderate to severe mental health issues and their families and carers.
• $25.8 million over four years to continue the successful Police Ambulance and Clinical Early Response (PACER) model, which embeds mental health clinicians with first responders at the scene to provide specialist advice and appropriate care to people experiencing mental distress.
• $36.4 million over four years for 57 mental health Response and Recovery Specialists across regional and rural NSW to provide assertive outreach support for communities, and coordination with local services at the time of a disaster or crisis, and during the ongoing recovery phase including:
• 27 FTE Farmgate Counsellors and Drought Peer Support Workers to continue to provide outreach and coordination with local services and communities for four years; and
• 30 FTE Disaster Recovery Clinicians across disaster affected areas, who will continue to work closely with primary health initiatives, community and welfare agencies and mental health services to provide direct care and respond to local community needs and issues on the ground. These positions are funded for two years.
• $12.2 million over two years to fund Tresillian for:
• six Regional Family Care Centres to provide services to families experiencing difficulties in the critical first years of their child’s life;
• five ‘Tresillian 2U’ vans to provide mobile community support to families with infants and children; and
• staffing for the Macksville residential unit, which provides inpatient services for families experiencing significant parenting challenges requiring intensive intervention.