Mental health and suicide prevention sector peak bodies unite on priorities for next National Agreement

Stronger governance and accountability, equitable access to supports, sustainable funding and workforce investment must be central priorities in the next National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement (National Agreement), according to Australia's peak mental health and suicide prevention organisations.

Mental Health Australia, Suicide Prevention Australia and Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia have come together to outline a shared vision for the next National Agreement, making clear to Commonwealth, state and territory governments the reforms needed to achieve better outcomes for people, families and communities across Australia.

This change is urgent. More than 3,000 people in Australia die by suicide every year, and mental health challenges and substance use disorders are now the leading cause of poor health in Australia. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, mental health and suicide prevention outcomes are worsening, reflecting persistent systemic inequities and ongoing gaps in access to culturally safe, accessible and effective care.

The organisations agreed while the current National Agreement has established critical new mental health and suicide prevention supports, it has fallen short of the systemic reform needed. This view echoes the findings of the Productivity Commission’s review in 2025.

Ahead of a meeting of Health and Mental Health Ministers later this year, the organisations have outlined practical priorities and recommendations for the next Agreement, including:

• Strengthening governance and accountability – by embedding sector and lived experience representation in all governance structures to inform design and implementation of the Agreement; and working with the Social and Emotional Wellbeing Policy Partnership in alignment with commitments under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.  
• Enabling genuinely independent system oversight – by re-establishing the National Mental Health Commission and National Suicide Prevention Office as independent agencies focused on system monitoring and public reporting, including through improved data on non-government delivered services and nationally consistent data collection.
• Ensuring equitable access to supports – by addressing service gaps; improving integration and local commissioning structures;  and ensuring cultural safety of all supports.
• Sustainably funding mental health and suicide prevention services to retain staff and provide stable community supports – with consistent, longer term (five year) funding contracts with appropriate indexation and notice periods.  
• Investing in workforce wellbeing, growth, retention, distribution and capability as essential to delivering equitable access to quality and safe supports. 
• Improving existing services by continuing to build on and adapt critical services established through the existing Agreement, informed by public release of evaluations.

Carolyn Nikoloski, Chief Executive Officer of Mental Health Australia, said the next Agreement must be shaped by the priorities of the people it’s designed to support. 

“Real reform means listening to people with lived experience, their families, carers and kin and the mental health and suicide prevention sector, to deliver the support people need to live well in their communities.” 

Nieves Murray, Chief Executive Officer of Suicide Prevention Australia, said stronger accountability and greater equity must be at the heart of the next Agreement.

“Every person experiencing suicidal distress deserves the right support, when and where they need it. The sector is ready to deliver. Now governments must match that commitment with sustainable funding, transparent accountability and genuine partnership with the sector and people with lived experience.”

Rachel Fishlock, Chief Executive Officer of Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia, said Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social and emotional wellbeing, mental health and suicide prevention must be embedded throughout the next Agreement.

“The next Agreement cannot treat Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander priorities as a separate issue to be addressed after the broader mental health system has already been designed. It must embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership, shared decision-making and our existing community-led frameworks throughout the Agreement, supported by adequate funding and accountability strong enough to change outcomes.”

With the current National Agreement expired as of June 2026 and now extended for 12 months, the next few months are crucial for negotiations. 

The three organisations will be monitoring the outcomes of the upcoming Health Ministers' meeting in September and are ready to work with governments on the next National Agreement to deliver much-needed reform for the community in mental health and suicide prevention. 

-ENDS-

Carolyn Nikoloski, Nieves Murray and Rachel Fishlock are available for interview.

Media contact:
Caroline Illingworth, Mental Health Australia Senior Communications Manager – 0417037595.

Background information

Mental Health Australia National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement Priorities. 

Suicide Prevention Australia National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement Priorities.

Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement Priorities.