CEO Update: Social determinants of health must be prioritised in Federal Budget
The circumstances in which we’re born, grow, work, live and age have a huge impact on our mental health and wellbeing.
Research measuring this impact suggests that social determinants of health such as income level, employment status, access to housing and social connection, can account for between 30 to 55 per cent of health outcomes.
As we head towards the Federal Budget in May, this is an important reminder to our decision-makers that all policy decisions have an impact on community mental health and wellbeing. This is why we need a holistic approach to mental health - one that acknowledges the role of sectors beyond health - to make headway in improving population wellbeing.
In Mental Health Australia’s Pre-Budget Submission, we call for action by the Australian Government for measures around implementing cost-of-living reprieve, including improving support for the people on the lowest incomes and addressing critical housing needs for people with mental ill-health.
We know the cost-of-living crisis is significantly impacting the mental health of people in Australia – with over half (58 per cent) of people saying the rising cost of living is having a big impact on their mental health, and 2 in 5 people (41 per cent) saying housing costs are impacting their mental health.
Compared to 2022, people were significantly less likely to report feeling confident in meeting normal monthly living expenses at the end of 2023 (only 57 per cent) or financially secure (47 per cent).
The government must respond to this crisis in the upcoming Budget.
The non-government sector also has a role to play – in working collectively to better recognise the broader determinants of health and wellbeing and provide holistic responses to people experiencing mental ill-health.
Mental Health Australia is pleased to be part of work led by the Australian Social Prescribing Institute of Research and Education (ASPIRE), which last week launched a Consensus Statement on accelerating social prescribing in Australia.
Social prescribing is one way of linking people seeking primary health care to broader social and community supports that also benefit health and wellbeing. This can include things like walking groups, housing support, education opportunities and local community groups.
One of the key recommendations from the Consensus Statement includes the need for strong leadership from the Australian Government in championing social prescribing as a vital part of healthcare delivery, by recognising social prescribing in national policies and agreements.
We will be looking for significant measures to improve Australian’s mental health and wellbeing in the upcoming Federal Budget – both through mental health reform and across the broader social determinants of health.
Carolyn Nikoloski
CEO, Mental Health Australia | 
