An audit has found gaps in SA Health’s administration of mental health services, including a lack of clarity about the role of the state’s three mental health commissioners.

The South Australian government spent $515.7 million on mental health services in 2019-20, covering psychiatric hospitals and wards, community services, residential services and grants to NGOs.

Covid‐19 also resulted in an increased demand for mental health services, with DHW putting in additional resources to boost existing services and introduce new initiatives.

 Yet Auditor General Andrew Richardson  found “key planning, monitoring and reporting processes for the provision of access to mental health services that were not operating effectively”.

Because of these gaps, SA Health was unable to demonstrate how effectively it was providing the public with access to the right mental health services at the right time, he says in a report released this week.

The audit also found the absence of an administrative framework for the state’s mental health commissioners, which was affecting their ability to do their job.

“The lack of clarity has prevented the SA mental health commissioners from managing the delivery of initiatives to improve access to mental health services,” Mr Richardson says.

Key gaps identified include:

• A lack of detail, strategies, outcome measures and reporting mechanisms in planning documents
• Ineffective processes for obtaining and analysing data on mental health services
• A lack of reporting on access to mental health services

The audit says the state’s 2017 Mental Health Strategic plan says that at some point in their lives, 45 per cent of South Australians will experience a diagnosable mental illness.

However, there’s no single department or agency within the government that has overreaching responsibility for mental health and wellbeing.

With unknown and unpredictable events like catastrophic bushfires and pandemics arising, the need for mental health services is changing.

South Australian Auditor General

“With unknown and unpredictable events like catastrophic bushfires and pandemics arising, the need for mental health services is changing,” the report says.

“As a result the challenge of providing access to mental health services in South Australia is significant.”

The Department of Health and Wellbeing says it has accepted the recommendations and will report publicly on its progress in meeting them.

Mental health was a major priority for DHW and the government, Deputy Chief Executive Julienne Tepohe said in a letter to the auditor general.

“This audit comes at a time of further expansion in the sector and will help with the implementation of a significant number of projects and guide revisions of strategic and service plans,” she said.

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