The new New South Wales Minister for Mental Health, Kevin Humphries, has allocated $30 million to establish a Mental Health Commission by the end of the year.

 

Mr Humphries, who is also Minister for Health Lifestyles and Western New South Wales, said he would be directing some resources away from the acute sector to ensure people who are suffering from mental health problems have somewhere safe to go in the community.

 

He said he had so far been unable to find out where the $1.25 billion spent in New South Wales on mental health goes, or if those on whom it is being spent are getting better.

 

"Are they recovering? Are they getting back to work? Are younger people being diagnosed early enough and treatments put in place? It needs to be rebuilt and that is what we will do, " he said.