Patients with mental health conditions in Australia are enduring an average wait time of seven hours in public hospital emergency departments (EDs), a situation that exacerbates their symptoms and heightens the risk of violence against healthcare workers. This ongoing crisis is highlighted in the Australian Medical Association’s (AMA) latest publication, the Public Hospital Report Card: Mental Health Edition.
Dr. Danielle McMullen, President of the AMA, stated that, despite the previous year’s alarming findings showing record-long wait times for mental health patients, there has been no overall improvement. “This means very unwell people are waiting for an unacceptably long time in completely inappropriate settings, with bright lights and noise, potentially further exacerbating their symptoms,” she said.
The report outlines significant challenges faced by both patients and healthcare professionals. Many patients present at health services during acute mental health crises, requiring urgent intervention and coordinated care. Unfortunately, the journey through the ED can be overwhelming, leading to increased agitation and distress. Dr. McMullen noted that the situation has resulted in a disturbing rise in verbal and physical assaults on hospital staff.
Multiple factors contribute to the current state of emergency in Australia’s public hospitals. These include exit block, a shortage of inpatient mental health unit beds, insufficient investment in community and primary mental healthcare, and a lack of interoperable electronic patient records, which creates time-consuming administrative burdens. Dr. McMullen emphasized the need for a more connected and effective mental health system to alleviate the strain on emergency departments.
To address these issues, she called for proper resourcing of general practice, psychiatry, and community mental health services, as well as the establishment of acute care teams. “Growing demand and under-resourcing is leading to clinically unacceptable long waiting lists for these services,” she explained.
The AMA’s findings are corroborated by the upcoming Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM) report, titled Still Waiting. This report reveals a troubling increase in mental health-related presentations at EDs, particularly among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and individuals aged over 65. Alarmingly, the report indicates that 10 percent of patients with mental health diagnoses are waiting more than 23 hours for an inpatient bed during the 2023–24 period.
Dr. Stephen Gourley, President of ACEM, highlighted the profound consequences of such delays. “For people who wait too long or do not receive appropriate care, for families and communities who carry the weight of crisis, and for staff working under relentless pressure, the impact is damaging,” he stated. He further emphasized that without meaningful investment in community-based mental health services, the system will remain reactive, costly, and unsustainable.
Dr. McMullen reiterated the necessity for a unified approach across the healthcare system and urged governments to prioritize funding accessible, high-quality mental health support outside of hospital settings. “This report underscores the pressing need for increased investment in the public hospital system,” she added.
The call for action includes a plea for the next National Health Reform Agreement (NHRA) to be implemented promptly, ensuring that adequate funding is allocated to provide necessary care to all patients.
In summary, the ongoing crisis in Australia’s emergency departments underscores the urgent need for systemic change in mental health care. As patients continue to face protracted wait times in unsuitable environments, the health sector faces a critical challenge that demands immediate attention from policymakers and healthcare leaders alike.
