Patrick McGorry urges government to move faster on mental health after federal budget boost

Upgrades to existing structures are required to address a ‘surge’ of need, especially among young people, professor says

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The youth mental health champion and former Australian of the year Patrick McGorry has welcomed the federal budget’s new investment in psychology, saying upgrades to existing structures are required to address a “surge” of need, especially among younger people.

But he said the government needs to move with a greater sense of urgency in its reforms, with questions raised about plans for a “low intensity” free online service which won’t start for two more years.

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