4 July 2025

The announcement of a 2025 Tasmanian election comes at a time of mounting pressure on families and friends who care for loved ones experiencing mental ill health or substance use challenges. Mental Health Families and Friends Tasmania (MHFFTas) is calling for a clear commitment from all parties to acknowledge these challenges and adopt the recommendations outlined in our Budget Priority Submission. The submission calls for essential funding to deliver family peer support services, and to provide training and capacity building for those living day-to-day, often moving from crisis to crisis with little guidance or support.

Our programs are working, we know they make a difference, but they are under-resourced. MHFFTas is ready and willing to expand and upscale the delivery of the supports that families and friends consistently ask for.

“Every advocate offers their often difficult, sometimes harrowing, always personal, experience to guide and verify potential positive systemic change. MHFFTas is there to support carers with resources and information, but even more importantly to offer unconditional and deep understanding, supporting connections that contribute to our own mental and physical wellbeing.’ (MHFF representative).”

Families and friends tell us our services are life-changing. Yet many of our programs are under-resourced and, in some cases, placed on hold because we are running them additional to our core funding responsibilities. This stop-start approach means families and friends are left without consistent, trusted support when they need it most. They cannot rely on programs being available when new crises arise or when they finally find the courage to reach out.

MHFFTas also calls on both parties to commit to the ongoing funding of lived experience representation services, which are essential to mental health and alcohol and other drug (AOD) service design and reform in Tasmania. The people MHFFTas support and the dedicated lived experience representatives call for funding security and trust that the programs that understand the unique and complex experience of mental health caring will be there when they need, because their role will continue. For over 40 years, MHFFTas has stood with families and friends, offering understanding, connection, and a voice in policy reform. But without sustainable and ongoing commitments in funding, essential supports and advocacy are at risk.

It is an incorrect assumption that investing in mental health and suicide prevention programs for consumers will reduce or negate the need for specific supports and representation for families and friends. It is well known that generic carer supports, or representation do not adequately respond and support the unique experiences of mental health caring. The unpredictability, complexity, and often crisis driven nature of mental health, and its intersection with the justice system and alcohol and other drugs requires tailored supports and advocacy. Mental health families and friends experience disproportionately poorer health and wellbeing outcomes across all determinants compared to the general population and other carers.

“For too long, the needs of families and friends supporting a loved one with mental ill health or substance use have been overlooked in funding and policy decisions. Sustainable funding for MHFFTas is not only about service delivery, but also about recognising the family and friend role, investing in what works, and ensuring Tasmania has a strong and credible lived experience voice in reform” -Louise Cornish, CEO, MHFFTas

Mental health families and friends deserve to have access to services that know their needs and experiences are being seen, heard and represented at all levels of government. With sustainable and adequate funding, MHFFTas will be able to continue to provide this for an underserved population, as we have done for 40 years.

End of Media Release

Written by MHFFTas CEO, Louise Cornish.