Research aimed at reducing suicide rates and improving mental health care in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic is set to get pushed along with a $20 million funding boost from the Federal Government. 

On Monday, Minister for Health Greg Hunt unveiled the package, including a $3 million round of grants for rapid research into improving the mental health system’s response to the impacts of the pandemic.

He said the chosen projects would need to deliver results within 12-18 months and deal with the mental health consequences of other hardships too, such as natural disasters.

Another $10.3 million has already been allocated to three research projects that are focused on reducing the country’s suicide rate as part of the government’s Million Minds Mission research fund.