Mental health workers 'despair' at state of NSW system

The NSW mental health system is in crisis and struggling to operate with less funding per capita than other states, according to a new report by frontline service providers.

A new mental health workers' alliance is hoping to draw attention to the issue ahead of the March 25 election and make it a top priority for the next government.

Both Victoria and Queensland invest more in mental health per person than NSW does and plan to further increase funding, according to the alliance.

More than 1300 mental health workers, including psychiatrists, GPs, mental health nurses and psychologists were surveyed for the report.

Chair of the NSW Branch of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP), Angelo Virgona says the system is languishing.

"I hesitate to call it a system because that would assume some level of coherence," Dr Virgona said.

"While the system is fragmented, NSW health workers are united.

"We want to see commitment towards the sector being better resourced, better managed, more coherent, and better connected."

A spokeswoman for NSW Mental Health Minister, Bronnie Taylor, said if re-elected the coalition government would work with the sector to ensure it meets the needs of consumers in a compassionate and responsive manner.

"The NSW government has undertaken significant investment into the mental health system over the past 10 years," she said.

Former NSW Labor deputy premier Carmel Tebbutt now represents community mental health services as chief executive of the Mental Health Co-ordinating Council.

She says far too many people are missing out on vital mental health services that could be delivered in the community by community-managed organisations.

"Instead hospital emergency departments across NSW become the default access point into the mental health system," Ms Tebbutt said.

The alliance is calling for an expert taskforce within the first year of the new government to conduct an analysis of mental health services across the state.

Ms Taylor's office said it would consider a gap analysis to identify immediate shortfalls if re-elected.

The alliance also wants new funding to be injected similar to other states, and more coherent and connected services to improve access and quality of care.

"We don't need another commission or inquiry. They've been done. The issues are known, as are many of the fixes," Dr Virgona said.

"Other states are showing it can be done. It's NSW's turn."