Mental health support will receive a funding boost in next week’s budget, as additional funds are also announced to reduce the Indigenous suicide rate in the NT.

Federal Minister for Health Greg Hunt says there will also be a focus on youth suicide in the Federal Budget to push the rate as low as possible.

“Despite all the expectations, because of what we were able to do in tailored support for mental health we had a reduction in suicide in Australia of 5% in 2020 — we are still waiting on the final figures for 2021,” Mr Hunt told Sky News’ Sunday Agenda program.

“We want to see it go lower, we want to see it head towards zero.”