In his report, based on data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, analyst Martyn Goddard said Tasmania had a higher prevalence of mental health risk than other states and needed more state government funding.

“Our funding of mental health is the worst of any state,” Mr Goddard said.

“If it was to fund its mental health services at a level at which they would be able to provide a national standard of care to Tasmanians, the state government would have to increase funding to the sector by about $30 million a year.

“Tasmania should have at least 20 per cent more public psychiatric beds than the average of other states. In fact, it has the fewest. It would need another 50 beds just to match the national average.”

Mr Ferguson said Mr Goddard’s last health report was “pretty off” and the government was providing record funding of $104 million to mental health services and 298 extra beds.

“We’re actually a government that is exceeding those calls for extra funding,” Mr Ferguson said.

“It is our heart’s desire to help people in their time of need. We accept that demand is up and we want to meet that demand.

“If Mr Goddard continues to be negative, frankly that’s a bit of an unhelpful contribution.”

Mr Ferguson also rejected concerns in the report that a far greater proportion of Tasmanian mental health patients seen in emergency departments in 2016-17 arrived in police vehicles.

He said it was appropriate police took people to hospital if it was for the individual and the community’s safety.

Mr Ferguson also said that Launceston would next year get the first ever facility for young mental health patients.

Mental health nurse at the Royal Hobart Hospital Ashley Howells said patients were suffering more because of the lack of beds and strain on nurses.

Deputy Labor leader Michelle O’Byrne said more acute in patient hospital beds and psychiatric nurses in emergency departments were needed.