Sydney, Australia (CU)_ According to the Australian Medical Association (AMA), despite the increased funding in the last budget, continuous underfunding of current frontline services and a shortage of psychiatrists are troubling the mental health system which is failing to survive in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even before the consequences of COVID-19 hit the country, the AMA warned the House Select Committee on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention that Australia’s mental health system is underfunded at all levels and that services are not keeping with demand.
Dr. Omar Khorshid, president of the Australian Medical Association, noted that while additional investment in the last budget was appreciated, current mental health service providers received no further support in spite of the high demand. The condition of public mental health is considerably worse, with more individuals suffering from serious mental illnesses ending up in already overburdened hospital emergency rooms.
Dr. Khorshid spoke about the shortage of psychiatrists in the country. He said, “There are not enough psychiatrists in Australia and there is likely to be increased demand for their services generated by the pandemic. We urgently need an alternative to emergency departments treating people experiencing…
