“More than a decade later I still wake up with nightmares that I might get locked up again. “And this still happens to people.” Premier Daniel Andrews on Wednesday pledged to hold a royal commission into state’s mental health system, in a surprise move he said would address early intervention and better support for families. The proposed commission – the first in Australia – would take up to two years, cost about $13 million, and be held within 100 days of the election if Labor was to retain office. Mr Andrews said Victoria’s mental health system needed huge reform, and that the royal commission would be modelled on the family violence commission, with all recommendations to be implemented.

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews makes the pledged for the royal commission at the Kyneton Men’s Shed on Wednesday. Credit:Joe Armao In 2017, 621 Victorians died from suicide – with other states reporting even higher rates per capita. “If this were any other cause or condition, we would call it what it is: a national emergency,” Mr Andrews said. ‘‘We are so far away from a system that the most vulnerable in our community need and they’re right to demand that of us.’’ The Victorian opposition has yet to say whether it would also hold an inquiry if elected, saying they would have more to say before the November 24 poll.

Victoria’s leading mental health organisations argue the system needs a $500 million boost to funding in coming years. Among their wish list is more than 200 extra acute mental health beds, new funding for assertive suicide outreach and $251 million to improve the care of young Victorians, many who are being turned away from services. Indigo Daya, the human rights adviser with the Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council, said it was vital a future royal commission also consider the “harm and abuse” that happened to people while in care. AMA Victoria president Associate Professor Julian Rait. Credit:Justin McManus She said a decade spent in and out of psychiatric wards did her more harm than good, as she had electroconvulsive therapy and medication forced on her, but received no counselling.

It was only after she went to a sexual assault centre that she got the help needed to deal with her experience being sexually abused as a child. “I truly wish I never went to a mental health service, which is a real indictment on a huge big system that is meant to help people,” Ms Daya said. AMA Victoria president Associate Professor Julian Rait called on the opposition get behind the royal commission. He said there were limited options for people with serious mental health challenges in the community, as psychiatrists were available only to those who could afford them, meaning people were often forced to go to emergency departments. Opposition mental health spokeswoman Emma Kealy partly blamed unplanned growth for putting enormous pressure on critical services such as mental health.