The dire state of mental health funding was laid bare when a state government was compelled to provide figures under parliamentary rules.

NSW Health revealed a $550 million annual shortfall in funding for clinical and support staff.

Here, Dr Ian Korbel, chair of the NSW branch of the RANZCP says leaving people without mental health care is going to cost far more.

When Premier Chris Minns was asked about the scale of the funding needed for NSW mental health services, he was frank: the need is significant, but there is only so much money government can invest.