Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull says the Government will review suicide prevention services for veterans.

Key points: Government will trial suicide prevention initiative in Townsville to help ADF personnel, PM says

Government will trial suicide prevention initiative in Townsville to help ADF personnel, PM says The Government's review panel into suicide prevention for veterans will be carried out by the National Mental Health Commission

The Government's review panel into suicide prevention for veterans will be carried out by the National Mental Health Commission Bill Shorten described mental health as a bipartisan goal

Mr Turnbull also announced the Government would trial a suicide prevention initiative in Townsville to help Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel.

He told reporters in Canberra that it was "one of the most important issues and responsibilities for our Government, for any government".

"We have to go beyond the memorials and the monuments and focus on the men and women, the real challenges they face — ensuring that they are supported," he said.

"This is a passionate commitment of mine and my Government.

"For me, this is a case of politics being very personal."

Mr Turnbull said the Government would be carrying out a targeted review of the suicide and self-harm prevention services available to ADF members and veterans.

He said it would be carried out by the National Mental Health Commission, with support from an expert panel including a younger veteran, an older veteran and a female veteran.

The review panel is expected to report back to government by early 2017.

Mental health a bipartisan goal: Shorten

The Government will also set up 12 suicide prevention trial sites across the country, which Health Minister Sussan Ley said would inform the Government's approach to the issue.

Ms Ley and Veterans Affairs Minister Dan Tehan joined the Prime Minister in addressing media at Parliament House, where the funding pledged towards addressing mental health issues was highlighted.

Mr Tehan said $1 million was committed in the budget to continue the funding for suicide prevention awareness among veterans.

"Then we had our election commitments," he said.

"We have given money to the Phoenix Institute to make sure that they can do the research they need to into PTSD … there is also $3.1 million in an election commitment to make sure that the veterans counselling service, which is for veterans and their families, continues to be expanded."

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten described mental health as a bipartisan goal and told reporters in Melbourne that Labor would work with the government on the initiative.

"Nothing is more important than making sure that our veterans, people who put their life on the line for their country, get the sort of back up and support back here once they return," he said.