Eliza Harvey reported this story on Tuesday, August 6, 2013 12:30:00

ELEANOR HALL: Now to that damning report that's found that there's been no improvement in the life expectancy of people suffering from a mental illness, over the past 30 years.



That's despite a major public focus on the problem and it's in stark contrast to Australia's suffering from illnesses like heart disease and cancer.



The research has found that mental illness is now the biggest contributor to disability in this country.



Eliza Harvey has our report.



ELIZA HARVEY: Australia is slowly breaking down the stigmas surrounding mental illness. But it's not happening quickly enough according to Ingrid Ozols, who lectures in workplace health and welfare.



INGRID OZOLS: Give someone time, ask them what do they need from you, what will help them feel better, I have a colleague who once said it's ok to be nosy. We're such a good society at being disconnected; we need to be more connected than ever.



We don't have the extended families like we used to so we need to reach out to our neighbours, reach out to a stranger and say look, how are things faring? And then we need to learn the skills, how do you have a brave conversation?



ELIZA HARVEY: Doctors say targeting mental illness at work is crucial, in order to reduce the numbers becoming acutely unwell and needing treatment in hospital.



At the moment, that's one of the only treatment options available for doctors.



Mental health expert, John Mendoza, says that leads to people 'falling through the cracks', a euphemism for people dying, or becoming permanently affected and unable to work.



Professor Mendoza has co-authored a new report into mental illness in Australia over the past three decades.



JOHN MENDOZA: The most significant thing that we can say is that we've made absolutely no progress in closing the gap, in terms of life expectancy for Australians who experience significant mental health disorders.



So we're talking different psychosis, schizophrenia, bipolar, major depression. I f you experience that illness, this year in Australia, your life expectancy is no better than when David Richmond completed his report on closing down institutional care in 1983.



Now I can think of no other area of health care where we've got common conditions where that's the case.



ELIZA HARVEY: No difference at all in 30 years?



JOHN MENDOZA: No, we've got no evidence that says your life expectancy will better, and your chances of getting coordinated care, effective care are dependent on where you live, your capacity to pay and your determination, or those of your loved ones to actually get that care.



ELIZA HARVEY: So why has there been such a failure in this area?



JOHN MENDOZA: What we've really failed to do, what we've done so well in areas like breast cancer, where we invested very sensibly in research; we've built out capacity and our knowledge to intervene much earlier.



Now if you go into mental health, it's a stark contrast, you do not have that infrastructure. You do not have that investment in research and you do not have the workforce to actually respond to the level of need that's in our community.



ELIZA HARVEY: As that need grows, so too does the bill for Government.



JOHN MENDOZA: Mental illness is now the biggest contributor to disability in this country. If as the Prime Minister says, the election is about a new productivity pact, that we have to lift the productivity of the nation, the first point I would say Prime Minister to begin with, is fix the mental health system and bring hundreds of thousands of Australians back into productive, capacity and enjoying life much greater than what they can at the moment.



ELIZA HARVEY: Ingrid Ozols says she's an example of the benefits of a good treatment program.



INGRID OZOLS: And I've lived and I've loved and I've worked with too many people touched by mental illness and suicide. I have bipolar disorder; I have tried to take my life on several occasions, but I've been really lucky, I've had great mental health care, and I know I'm in the minority.



And that's what's helped me to become someone who can contribute to society.



ELIZA HARVEY: And she thinks that more focus on self care, or programs that teach you how to keep mentally well, is the main way to improve the system.



ELEANOR HALL: Eliza Harvey with that report.