The federal government has announced Australia’s mental health care system would be overhauled to provide more services tailored to people’s illnesses over the next three years.

The system will be less Canberra-driven and gives primary health networks greater flexibility when it comes to helping people.

Health Minister Sussan Ley announced a range of changes to the system in response to the National Mental Health Commission’s 2014 review of mental health services. 

This included establishing a dedicated mental health hotline and website and more money for Headspace centres.

Network chief executive Jason Trethowan said the reforms meant the federal government would give money for mental health services directly to primary health networks.

He said the reforms recognised the importance of embedding mental health and well-being into general practice and primary healthcare.

“A fundamental role for Western Victoria Primary Health Network is regional health service integration,” he said.

“By working closely with all levels of government, general practice, other service providers and hospital networks, we have a fantastic opportunity to focus our efforts at a regional level.

“This will achieve better, whole of system integration, which will best meet the individual needs of patients throughout the Wimmera.”

Mr Trethowan said the network would receive new funding from July 1 from a national pool of $350 million.

“From 2018 we will commission all regionally delivered, federal government funded, primary mental health and suicide services,” he said.

“We will start working immediately with our partners, building strong connections to ensure service continuity is maintained.”

Mr Trethowan said nearly half of all people would experience a mental illness at some point.

“Around four to five million Australians suffer some form of mental illness in any given year,” he said.

“It is ranked the third largest chronic disease, after cancer and heart disease.”

Mental Health Australia chief executive Frank Quinlan said the changes would lay the framework for an improved system, however there would continue to be shortages, including for drug and alcohol services.

“Two-thirds of people who might benefit from mental health treatment are not seeking it out,” he said.

“It seems likely that even with efficiencies achieved across the system, there will come a time when we’re taking arguments to government about investing appropriately in services we know will be effective and efficient.”