More than 44 per cent of presentations made to Rural Health Tasmania in the past six months have been for mental health issues, with advocates calling for a greater focus on early intervention.
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Rural Health Tasmania chief executive Robert Waterman said some people were waiting up to 12 months to access services, with government funding for reactive programs missing the "big issue" of early intervention.
"We need to be doing a lot more from a preventative approach with our young people so they are not developing mental health and substance abuse problems later in life," he said.
"Early intervention is far cheaper than providing treatment, and yet we are not putting the resources where they need to be."
Rural Health Tasmania has facilitated the roll-out of an early intervention program called Ruler in the state's North-West, aimed at building resilience among primary school students.
With one of the highest suicide rates in the country, Mr Waterman said it was concerning that Tasmanians weren't seeing any initiative to provide early intervention.
"We can provide young people with the opportunity to have a really healthy, active, fulfilling and rewarding life, and we are not doing enough," he said.
Health Minister Michael Ferguson said the government was delivering a $104 million evidence-based plan for a better mental health system, with more staff, services and the right mix of preventative, community and acute care options.
"Our plan is strongly aligned with the Fifth National Mental Health Plan and the state's Rethink Mental Health Plan, both of which have been welcomed and supported by experts and stakeholders, and we have a whole-of-government approach to better mental health," he said.
"Our focus is on services where and when people need them, not focusing only on hospital beds which is what everyone in the sector is calling for."
Opposition Leader Rebecca White said Labor had developed a $40 million Mental Health Workers in Schools Program, which would employ a range of mental health professionals including social workers, youth workers and psychologists.
"Labor has consulted widely and the feedback is clear - early intervention is vital in protecting a young person's mental health," she said.
"Ruler has already achieved some positive results at schools interstate and we are calling on the government to commit additional funding towards the rollout of this program statewide."
- For crisis support, call Lifeline 13 11 14
Jessica Willard
Being a health reporter to me is about more than just reporting the problems. It's about asking why they are happening in the first place and what needs to change to fix it.
Being a health reporter to me is about more than just reporting the problems. It's about asking why they are happening in the first place and what needs to change to fix it.
