Victoria's election ignores mental health crisis, experts warn
Victoria's two-week election campaign avoids the mental health crisis. Yet research links it to rising violent crime.
Why it matters
The winner will likely spend hundreds of millions extra on prisons and prison workers.
In Australia. Victoria voters are being offered crime-fighting policies without discussion of the mental health system overhaul experts say is essential to reduce violent offences.
Key facts
- 1 in 3
- Psychosis in 2024-25 homicides
- Roughly triple
- Rate increase over decade
- Crime dominates Victoria's election campaign.
- Politicians mostly avoid the root cause experts say matters: untreated mental illness.
- A recent study estimates about one in three homicides in Victoria in 2024-25 involved someone with psychosis.
- That's roughly triple the rate a decade ago.
- Psychiatrist Pat McGorry is a former Australian of the Year.
- He has warned the state's mental health system is failing.
- Only about half of people with serious mental illness get help from services.
- "If you are really serious about tackling crime you need to get serious about treating mental health," McGorry said.
- The Coalition is promising an audit of mental health spending and more services.
- Labor has promised nurse-to-patient ratios and housing support.
- Both focus on toughness rather than the real issue.
