Mental Health

The Hon. C. BONAROS (14:39): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Attorney, representing the Minister for Health and Wellbeing in another place, a question about mental health.

Leave granted.

The Hon. C. BONAROS: It is a well-known fact that psychosocial support services keep people out of hospital and their crammed emergency departments, with statistics revealing community-based psychosocial supports reduce hospitalisations and bed stays by 62 per cent. The Productivity Commission's report on its inquiry into mental health released in 2020 estimated that almost 11,000 South Australians do not qualify for the NDIS and are needing but not receiving psychosocial supports. The Minister for Health and Wellbeing is currently undertaking a specific study on the unmet needs for psychosocial supports in South Australia. My questions to the minister are:

1. Can he advise when the study will be finalised and the findings released publicly?

2. Does this government have any plans to increase funding to meet the needs of those 11,000 South Australians we already know about in 2020 and, if not, why not?

The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations and Public Sector) (14:40): I thank the honourable member for her question. I certainly will pass those on to my colleague in another place the Minister for Health and bring back a reply.