Mental health expert and Australian of the Year Professor Patrick McGorry has called on Prime Minister Julia Gillard to set up a prime ministerial council on mental health if Labor is re-elected.

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott is calling for better leadership on mental health and the Government has been criticised for not having a policy as generous as the Coalition's.

More than 60 health and welfare groups have signed a letter to Ms Gillard.

Professor McGorry has singled out Ms Gillard to establish a prime ministerial council.

"To hold the Prime Minister, if she's re-elected, to her commitment to this being a serious second-term agenda ... with the key advocates and experts being involved," he said.

"Probably a relatively small number should be involved. So that would be one thing that might actually give reality to what she's promised."

But he says there are deficiencies with the policies of both parties.

"One side of politics has committed about four times as much as the other side to mental healthcare and investment but neither side has committed to a long-term, sustained plan to turn this around which is what we need," he said.

"Neither side is committed to all aspects."