Review calls for mental health overhaul

A federal government review has found Australia's mental health system is a collection of often uncoordinated services introduced on a ad-hoc basis.

As well, there was no agreed way to measure whether almost $10 billion in commonwealth funding was leading to effective outcomes or improving lives, the National Mental Health Commission found.

The system needed to focus on the needs of users rather than producers by redirecting funding to services such as prevention and early intervention, recovery-based community support, stable housing and participation in employment, education and training, it recommended.