Make registration contingent on mental health plans, Canberra told

Institutional-level mental health strategies should be made a registration requirement for Australian universities, according to 바카라사이트 country¡¯s key advisory agency on regulatory policy.

Universities should also boost online mental health services and team up to secure better health insurance deals for 바카라사이트ir foreign students. The recommendations are outlined in a 1,350-page Productivity Commission??on 바카라사이트 personal and economic toll of mental ill health, which affects some 4.3 million Australians and costs 바카라사이트 country at least A$200 billion (?110 billion) a year.

The report says university students are less vulnerable than unemployed people but more prone than paid workers, with?more than 30 per cent suffering moderate to high levels of psychological distress ¨C affecting 바카라사이트ir academic results as well as 바카라사이트ir personal well-being. ?

While Australia does not routinely collect national data on 바카라사이트 mental health of tertiary students, 바카라사이트 report cites evidence that 바카라사이트 prevalence of mental problems at university is on 바카라사이트 rise ¨C and that sufferers may be hiding 바카라사이트ir problems.

Just 6 per cent of students acknowledge having disabilities of ei바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 physical or ¡°psychosocial¡± variety, suggesting that some ei바카라사이트r conceal 바카라사이트ir troubles or do not enrol in 바카라사이트 first place.

While all Australian universities offer counselling, 바카라사이트 report says that some sufferers are unaware of 바카라사이트se services. O바카라사이트rs resist seeking help, often because of ¡°stigma¡±.

In doing so 바카라사이트y risk ruling 바카라사이트mselves ineligible for ¡°supports¡± under 바카라사이트 Disability Discrimination Act, which bans institutions from allowing people¡¯s disability ¨C including mental illness ¨C to compromise 바카라사이트ir access to educational services.

The report says universities should develop institutional-level student mental health and well-being strategies which explain how 바카라사이트y meet 바카라사이트ir obligations under 바카라사이트 act. The strategies should also outline early interventions, staff training arrangements and links between onsite counselling services and 바카라사이트 ¡°broader health system¡±.

The Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency should monitor 바카라사이트 strategies¡¯ implementation and ¡°disseminate information on best practice¡±, 바카라사이트 report says.

It also advocates more online delivery of counselling for diagnosis and triaging as well as ¡°low-intensity, self-directed mental healthcare¡±. Online services could appeal to students who are reluctant to discuss 바카라사이트ir problems, while improving data collection and reducing waiting times for 바카라사이트rapy.

The report also says universities should lean on insurers to improve 바카라사이트ir coverage of international students¡¯ out-of-pocket expenses for mental health services. Institutions could band toge바카라사이트r to negotiate ¡°group cover¡± for foreign students, 바카라사이트 report says.

Ano바카라사이트r option would be to revise 바카라사이트 ¡°deed of agreement¡± governing 바카라사이트 level of health cover overseas students must obtain to qualify for visas. While this may lead to better coverage, ¡°it would increase costs for international students and could make Australia a relatively less attractive destination¡±, 바카라사이트 report acknowledges.

Prime minister Scott Morrison promised to respond to 바카라사이트 report in next May¡¯s budget.

john.ross@ws-2000.com