The missing middle in Queensland’s mental health crisis

Health experts have warned people in mental health distress will continue to burden emergency services without further investment to bridge “the missing middle” – the gaps in services that see thousands of Queenslanders unable to access appropriate care each year.

It comes three months after the closure of Toowong Private Hospital, one of only a handful of private mental health hospitals in inner Brisbane, and the delivery of the LNP’s first state budget, which some professionals say did not include enough investment to grow the mental health workforce.

Queensland Mental Health Commissioner Ivan Frkovic said while there are “pockets of excellence” across the state, there is a mismatch in services – otherwise described as the “missing middle”.

“People will have a mild, moderate or severe