Australia already has 2,522 children aged 0-4 on a potentially dangerous psychiatric drug. Now there are psychiatric recommendations of grave concern for children under 5 years old that if implemented will lead to more very young children on psychiatric drugs. These recommendations arose from the recent Productivity Commission’s Inquiry into Mental Health.

In May 2021, the Federal Government gave $0.5 million towards implementing these recommendations for very young children. This money is for writing of new national guidelines so that states and territories can include mental health screening in current physical checks done by maternal and child health nurses at community health centres. States and territories will need to fund and implement this screening.

The current Federal Parliament Select Committee on Mental Health and Suicide Prevention is investigating which other recommendations from the mental health inquiry should be funded and implemented, many which will adversely affect children of all ages. This investigation will be complete by November 2021.

Click here to download CCHR’s submission to the Select Committee