Western Australia’s state-funded mental health care system provides inefficient and ineffective services, with funding misdirected to provide more hospital beds rather than prevention programs, according to a recent Auditor General’s report. The Access to State-Managed Adult Mental Health Services audit, released on Wednesday, found that mental health outcomes in WA had declined rather than improved due to the state government failing to fund and implement a plan made almost five years ago. File photo. The Auditor General found WA’s mental health system to be inefficient and ineffective. Credit:Nicolas Walker The audit looked at how the Mental Health Commission, Department of Health and health service providers were structured and how people accessed care in hospitals, emergency departments and community mental health teams between 2013 and 2017. The audit also analysed the government’s progress in enacting the Better Choices. Better Lives: Western Australian Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drug Services Plan […]