Why are the rates of restrictive practices in Victoria’s mental health services so high?

Twenty years ago, it was generally agreed Victoria had the best mental health services in Australia. But today, there are signs it’s faring the worst.

Where once Victoria had the highest per capita spending on mental health care, it now has the lowest. Funding to community-based support and inpatient beds has failed to match significant population growth, leaving the state with the lowest number of full-time equivalent staff per capita in the country.