Federal budget 2021: What mental health announcements mean for Tasmania

The 2021 federal budget includes $2.3 billion for mental health care and suicide prevention, including additional crisis services and the establishment of a National Suicide Prevention Office.

But what the announcements will mean for Tasmania, and how additional federal funds will work alongside existing state-based strategies remains unclear.

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Mental Health Council of Tasmania chief executive Connie Digolis said while it was good to see additional funding, there were still a lot of questions that needed answers.

"What we need to understand from this budget is where there might be some flexibility ... some acknowledgment of the work that's already happening here [Tasmania], and then ideally, how it will compliment and enhance that work further - rather than duplicating what we are already doing," she said.

The federal budget includes $298 million for the establishment of a National Suicide Prevention Office, along with $487 million for 40 initial mental health treatment centres.

There's also $111 million for a digital platform to provide online counselling, and Head to Health services for adults who have "outgrown" existing Headspace programs.

While welcoming of a renewed focus on mental health initiatives and the challenges facing the sector amid COVID-19, Ms Digolis said the budget did not constitute a pandemic response.

"I don't think this is a COVID response. A COVID response, quite honestly, is what our state government did," she said.

"They said 'how do we look after the mental wellbeing of our whole population'.

"Rather, I think this federal response is largely based on what has been an under-resourced and fragmented mental health system across the country.

"It sill very much seems to be response of driving people into the system, rather than away from it."

Meanwhile, Mental Health and Wellbeing Minister Jeremy Rockliff described it as "a budget for the times", and one that would support the national recovery.

"It's a budget that aligns very well with the agenda we are moving forward with as well, in terms of what we promised and what we will deliver," he said.

Mr Rockliff was appointed the state's first Mental Health and Wellbeing portfolio in 2019 and said moving forward, the government had a clear agenda.

However, on Wednesday he would not be drawn into questions around a cabinet re-shuffle - it the Liberal's are successful in forming a majority government.

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