2023 will be the 40 year anniversary since the Richmond Report was published in NSW in 1983. The Richmond Report advocated for closing down all institutional care settings for people with significant mental health challenges in NSW. After 40 years, now is a good time to stop and reflect on what has been achieved and what more needs to improve across NSW.

People with mental health challenges are overrepresented in the criminal justice systems. According to the AIHW* we do know some 33% of people entering prison were homeless in the 4 weeks before entering prison, 23% of people entering prison reported taking medication for mental health conditions, and 54% of people leaving prison are expected to be homeless when they leave prison. Other statistics show low employment, and low physical health and low dental health outcomes for people living with mental health challenges. Another unknown factor is the impact of long COVID on mental health, and how that will impact future health and allied health service needs, as we live through the ongoing coronavirus variants that are emerging across the world.

For NSW to be a stronger and kinder place to live, all people need housing and employment opportunities, and access to supportive health care and access to supportive education pathways. For people living with mental health challenges in NSW, how has the Richmond Report helped them, and how has the Richmond Report failed them? We call on the NSW Parliament to conduct a comprehensive inquiry in 2023, to evaluate and review the 40 year anniversary milestone of the Richmond Report.

*Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2019. The Health of Australia's Prisoners 2018. Catalogue number PHE 246. Canberra: AIHW.