Some significant effort has been put into increasing awareness of mental health issues over the past few years, but the demand for assistance is not being met, with reports of people in crisis waiting months for specialist services. Victorians need more timely access to mental health services and the assurance that they will receive continuity of care. Measures to improve access to mental health services should include:

• An increase in government-funded services and a more integrated model for effective care
• Sustained commitment with major funding over a long period beyond political cycles to achieve the mental health services the community needs and deserve
• Partnerships between all levels of government to provide funding and services