We need more mental health beds, but not in hospitals

More acute mental health beds and more doctors is not the answer to Australia's mental health needs it is more community-based beds which will improve mental health outcomes, according to David Crosbie, CEO of the Mental Health Council of Australia. "We have a desperate shortage of community-based residential treatment options for people with a mental illness. This shortage places huge pressures on hospitals, prisons and carers who courageously try to look after people who really need community-based residential care," Crosbie said. Read the full media release here.