Calls for better mental health treatment after 34 people die at hands of mentally ill in past decade THIRTY-four Queenslanders have been murdered by people suffering an acute mental illness in the past decade, sparking calls for more resources to treat patients. Former Australian of the Year and mental health advocate Pat McGorry said some victims may be alive today if their killers had received appropriate treatment. Queensland's Mental Health Court annual report tabled last week in State Parliament revealed more people were being directed to the specialist court. However for the past six years, a large proportion of the court's time was spent hearing appeals from the attorney-general of the day, who often argued to stop some patients from being released into the community. The court, headed by Justice Ann Lyons, decides the state of mind of people charged with criminal offences. The Mental Health Review Tribunal determines whether people should remain involuntarily detained or if they should have some freedom in the community. The latest report revealed that in the past financial year the court sat on 80½ days, compared to 76 in the year before. In the past financial year it heard 335 matters, compared to 290 in 2010-11. Professor McGorry said governments had made too many platitudes and not enough action. "We still haven't seen any real growth in mental health resources and in Queensland we have seen cutbacks," Prof McGorry said. If there are cutbacks in an already threadbare mental health service there will be a consequence. People have been talking about this (mental health) for 10 years. The (Federal) Government has been able to avoid its responsibilities by distracting (the public with issues) like education and climate change. Federal Minister for Mental Health Mark Butler defended the Government's investment in mental health resources. "In contrast with the sharp cuts to services we've seen by the Newman Government, the Federal Labor Government is investing a record $2.2 billion to improve the mental health system," he said. A spokeswoman for Health Minister Lawrence Springborg said the Newman Government was committed to elevating the importance of mental health. She said the establishment of the office of the Mental Health Commissioner should be completed by the end of June.