He announced a royal commission, to be established in the first half of next year, focusing on early intervention and improving support for families living with a mental health issue. But only if Labor is re-elected to government on November 24.

“This year, 3000 Australians will take their own lives. Countless more are trying to cope,’’ Mr Andrews said.

“If this were any other cause or condition, we would call it what it is: a national emergency.”

Some issues should be above politics. A ‘national emergency’ should be one of them.

Related: Promise to enact all outcomes from mental health royal commission

Shadow Minister for Mental Health Emma Kealy – the former chief executive of Edenhope Hospital, in the Wimmera – responded to Labor’s announcement by highlighting pressures on the mental health system.

“Daniel Andrews has lost control of population growth and now we have more people sharing less mental health services,” she said in a statement.

“If Daniel Andrews is serious about doing more for mental health, he will start by reversing his cuts and finding more funding to match the population growth that has occurred on his watch.”

Nowhere in the statement did it say what the opposition would do, if elected, to address the pressures both sides of the political divide had identified.

Part of the reason our mental health system ‘isn’t working’ is because of a lack of commitment from all parties to making reforms a priority.

And, without long-term planning and resourcing, it won’t get any better.

Almost half of all Australians will have a common mental health disorder in their lifetime.

Bipartisan support for a royal commission into mental health, and the implementation of its recommendations, might improve the health outcomes of about 8.6 million people and their families, regardless of the outcome of this election.

If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or online at www.lifeline.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.

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