CALI joins national group urging Govt for action on mental health

The Council of Australian Life Insurers (CALI) has appeared as one of 10 signatories of an open letter addressed to the Federal Treasurer urging the government to take action on Australia’s mounting mental health crisis.

The letter, penned just ahead of the Federal Government’s Economic Reform Roundtable commencing from tomorrow and led by Treasurer Jim Chalmers, indicated that mental ill-health is costing Australia’s economy as much as $220 billion a year.

This aligns with the results from previous CALI-commissioned research that found mental ill-health has now become one of the main reasons for workers under the age of 30 to claim temporary and permanent disability (TPD).

“Life insurers play an essential role in strengthening Australia’s financial safety net, but by the time someone comes to us, they’ve often exhausted all supports available,” CALI chief executive and letter signatory, Christine Cupitt, said.

“They’re really unwell, and it is extremely hard to help them recover and get back to work.

“Even more concerning is the outlook for future generations. Two in five young Australians are affected by mental health challenges, and we’ve seen a 732 per cent increase in claim rates among people in their 30s permanently leaving the workforce due to mental ill-health.

“This should not be the story of young Australians experiencing mental ill-health.”

The letter, also supported by several mental health organisations, made three recommendations for discussion during the roundtable:

1. Co-ordinate a whole-of-government response to the mental health crisis, including developing national mental health targets and driving government action and accountability across Departments.
2. Guarantee Australians equitable access to timely treatment and support, no matter where they live, by better funding quality  community-based services and allowing both the public and private systems to help people sooner.
3. Invest in education, training and boosts to the mental health workforce to ensure Australia has an adequate supply of mental health professionals to meet the care needs of the Australian people

“Addressing the mental health crisis could be the single biggest productivity reform Australia can make this decade,” Cupitt said.

“The Treasurer and participants in the Economic Reform Roundtable can’t ignore the impact mental ill-health is having on our nation’s productivity. With more people taking time off and leaving work altogether, the toll of this mental health crisis is undeniable.

“We need the Government to lead a collective effort, one backed by industry, clinicians, and the community, to strengthen the safety net and support Australians when they need it most.”