The Emperor’s New Clothes: Head-to-Health Centres expand in the absence of evaluation of efficacy

Abstract

Objective:

To discuss concerns about the Australian federal government announcement of further funding expansion of the Adult Mental Health Centres (AMHCs), now known as Head-to-Health centres.

Conclusions:

The expansion of AMHCs prior to evaluation recapitulates the policy predicaments and perils of the headspace federal-infrastructure allied-health private-practice model. Comprehensive evidence-based mental healthcare planning and practice is needed, rather than stand-alone services of unclear efficacy. We describe the principles of such an approach based upon an evidence-based Health Needs Assessment.