19 August 2021

Jeremy Rockliff, Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing

Delivering better mental health services through leadership and collaboration

The Tasmanian Government is taking a best-practice approach to building a contemporary, integrated model of mental health care so people can get more holistic support, in the right place, at the right time.

Today, we are releasing an implementation plan for Rethink 2020, Tasmania’s overarching mental health plan, in line with our commitment for our First 100 Day Plan.

Rethink 2020 outlines a shared approach to improving mental health outcomes for all Tasmanians, and was developed by key experts, including Primary Health Tasmania, the Tasmanian Department of Health and the Mental Health Council of Tasmania, and has been endorsed by the Mental Health and Alcohol and Drug Leadership Group.

We have committed an initial $500,000 towards the implementation of Rethink 2020, on top of the substantial investment made in the Tasmanian Mental Health Reform Program.

The implementation plan outlines new areas of focus, including:

• Suicide prevention;
• Improving the coordination of services for people with severe and complex mental illness;
• Improving the physical health of people with mental illness; and
• Providing mental health services across a ‘continuum of care’.

The implementation plan will be reviewed and updated annually. This will ensure it remains flexible and responsive to the changing national mental health and suicide prevention environment, and reflects the outcomes of ongoing consultation, including people with lived experience of mental illness; people who have experienced suicidal distress; carers, families and friends; priority population groups; peak bodies; and service providers.

Flourish Tasmania, Mental Health Families and Friends Tasmania, and the National Disability Insurance Agency will continue to be essential partners throughout the implementation.

Rethink 2020 is about providing the right care and best possible support to Tasmanians when they need it most. 

Assistance is available 24/7 by calling Lifeline on 13 11 14, or the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467.

Importantly, if anyone is in immediate danger, they should call triple zero immediately.

The Plan is available at https://www.health.tas.gov.au/mentalhealth/rethink_mental_health_project

More Media Releases from Jeremy Rockliff

More Media Releases from the Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing