Psychiatrists are concerned about the NT Government resourcing ineffective punitive law and justice measures at the expense of mental health care and funding for socio-economic determinants of health, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) NT Branch has said in response to the 2026–27 Budget delivered this week.

RANZCP NT Branch co-chair Dr Sarah Dorrington said the budget has left health and mental health significantly underfunded, despite growing community need.

"The numbers paint a clear picture of distress. Homelessness in the Northern Territory is twelve times higher than the national average, remote communities are facing a crisis of overcrowding, the Territory's mental health burden is more than double the national average, and youth suicide rates are 3.5 times higher than anywhere else in Australia. We cannot continue to ignore these sobering realities," Dr Dorrington said.

"As doctors serving on the frontlines of the Territory's fractured mental health system, we can tell you that the number one thing the NT Government can do right now is invest in people's mental health and health outcomes. It is good for the people, and good for the NT's economy and productivity."

Dr Dorrington said one of the biggest priorities for the Territory's mental health workforce has been to ensure people are able to access the care they need on country, closer to home and their community.

“Evidence has repeatedly shown that connection to Country, family, and community is fundamental to the social and emotional wellbeing of people, particularly Indigenous peoples, and that being removed from that connection, including through aeromedical retrieval to distant centres, risks compounding mental health distress,” Dr Dorrington said.

"But the disproportionate emphasis on funding high-acuity service delivery and the Top End Aeromedical Retrieval Service, although welcome, compared to early intervention, prevention, and support services distributed equitably across the region, can hamper whatever little progress we've made towards achieving this goal."

"It is a huge financial burden and risk to Territorians to prioritise the ongoing escalation of crisis-driven costs without sustained investment in early intervention and preventative service delivery across the Territory."

“The NT government’s significant increase in funding for correctional services will be wasted if it is not implemented alongside increased resourcing to prison-based health services. To focus only on punishment and not address the root causes of crime is unfair, harsh, and won’t work in the long run” Dr Dorrington said.

While the RANZCP acknowledges systemic reforms will take time to implement, the College urgently calls on the NT Government to take immediate interim steps to improve access to mental healthcare and prevent cycles of escalation to acute healthcare and incarceration. 

This includes urgent measures to support the provision of treatment of substance use disorder for prisoners, and neuropsychology services for the diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorders such as fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and intellectual disability.

The RANZCP notes that the provision of forensic mental health services to Territorians is lacking. The NT is the only Australian jurisdiction without a secure forensic mental health treatment facility. It also highlighted that youth detainees are able to access only one child and adolescent forensic psychiatrist working remotely for one day per week.  

“No allied mental health clinicians are available to provide wrap-around mental health and physical supports for younger people or adults in the incarceration system. The RANZCP urgently calls for the resourcing of a dedicated, health-funded child and adolescent forensic mental healthcare team and the opening of a secure forensic mental health treatment facility,” Dr Dorrington said.

ENQUIRIES: For more information, or to arrange an interview call Dishi Gahlowt on +61 437 315 911 or email media@ranzcp.org. 

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists is a membership organisation that prepares medical specialists in the field of psychiatry, supports and enhances clinical practice, advocates for people affected by mental illness and advises governments and other groups on mental health care. For information about our work, our members or our history, visit www.ranzcp.org.

In Australia: If you or someone you know needs help, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or www.lifeline.org.au or the Suicide Callback Service on 1300 659 467 or www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 or via web chat on www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support. 

In New Zealand: If you or someone you know needs help, contact Lifeline NZ on 0800 543 354 or www.lifeline.org.nz or the Suicide Crisis Helpline on 0508 828 865 or www.lifeline.org.nz/suicide-prevention.