Open Letter to the Australian Government: 

To the Honourable Members of Parliament, Health Ministers, and Mental Health Policy Makers,

We, the undersigned, write to express our deep concerns about the current state of mental health care for individuals with severe mental health issues in Australia. There is a critical gap in the support available for those who require constant supervision and care, as well as an urgent need for enhanced safety measures to protect both these individuals and the broader community.

The Problem
Severe mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and other serious psychiatric disorders, can pose significant challenges both for the individuals affected and for those around them. Tragically, recent incidents highlight the dire need for reform:

- In 2023, a paramedic in NSW was fatally injured by a person with schizophrenia, an incident that could potentially have been prevented with appropriate mental health interventions.
- Every day, countless Australians with severe mental health issues who engage in regular self-harm or demonstrate erratic behaviour end up in emergency departments without access to sufficient long-term solutions or preventive care.
- Young Australians, including minors who engage in high-risk behaviours such as reckless driving, pose a growing risk to themselves and others.

These cases are just a fraction of a larger systemic issue where individuals in need of 24/7 care often lack access to registered nurses or psychiatrists who can ensure adherence to treatment, manage medications, and monitor for signs of self-harm or harm to others. In many cases, support workers are not sufficient to prevent recurring crises that strain emergency resources and place the public at risk.

Our Request for Action
We acknowledge the historical challenges associated with institutionalised psychiatric care. However, it is now evident that a balanced and modernised approach is urgently needed to support those who require high-level mental health care and to protect community safety. 

We are calling on the Australian government to implement the following reforms:

1. **Establish Safe and Modernised Care Facilities**: Reintroduce and fund secure, compassionate psychiatric care facilities where individuals with severe mental health issues can receive 24/7 support from registered nurses, psychiatrists, and other qualified professionals. These facilities should prioritise dignity, human rights, and effective treatment for patients while providing the security necessary to protect them and the public.

2. **Provide Intensive Supervision and Monitoring**: Ensure that individuals with severe mental health issues living in the community receive intensive and qualified support, including regular supervision by mental health professionals, to monitor for self-harm and potential risks to others.

3. **Implement Community Safety Measures for Underage Offenders**: For minors engaging in high-risk, reckless behaviours that endanger others, establish programs that combine strict supervision with therapeutic intervention to ensure they do not continue to harm themselves or the community.

4. **Develop a Comprehensive Mental Health Safety Policy**: Initiate a nationwide review and overhaul of existing mental health policies to prioritise both patient care and community safety. This includes revisiting legal and ethical standards around involuntary treatment for individuals unable to recognise their own risk to self or others.

A Safer and More Compassionate Australia
We understand that mental health is a complex issue, and we believe that every individual deserves respect, dignity, and the chance to live safely and meaningfully. At the same time, the right to safety must also extend to our communities, including families, healthcare professionals, and all Australians. 

We ask that the government take decisive action to bridge the gap between individual care and community safety, creating a system that truly supports all Australians—both those with severe mental health needs and those affected by their actions. 

This petition is not about returning to the days of outdated psychiatric institutions. Instead, it calls for a progressive, human-centered approach to mental health, where compassion, care, and safety for all are prioritised. 

We urge you to hear our plea and to work together to create a safer, more supportive Australia for everyone.

Sincerely,  
The Undersigned