Mental Health Funding

In reply to Mr PICTON (Kaurna) (30 July 2021). (Estimates Committee B)

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing): I have been advised:

1. The $20 million increase in mental health funding related to the following new initiatives:

Bushfire recovery funding of $5 million. ($2.5 million for 2020-21 and $2.5 million for 2021-22.)

Mental Health COVID-19 funding of $15.132 million. ($0.025 million in 2019-20 and $15.107 million in 2020-21.)

The information is sourced from the state budget papers for 2020-21, Budget Paper 5, page 73.

2. Total funding for 2020-21 estimated operating expenditure for mental health programs in SA Health was $508.6 million. The mental health budget for 2021-22 has yet to be finalised although it is anticipated that the figure will be higher than the estimated result for 2020-21 due to the additional mental health funding announced in the 2021-22 state budget amounting to $163.5 million over the next four years.