Opposition leader Tony Abbot's election pledge of $1.5 billion to boost mental health services were received warmly by experts.

Mr. Abbot told media the fund will uplift front line services around the nation and help 250,000 more young people diagnosed with mental health disorders.

He also pledged 20 new early psychosis prevention and intervention centers, 60 extra Headspace youth mental health centers, and 800 new hospital beds to lessen the pressure on public hospitals and emergency departments.

This is a big further step along the path to better mental health services in our country. This will be a big step forward, Mr Abbott said.

The money would be funded from Labor's health deals with the states and slashing some programs such as extra GP super clinics.

Professor John Mendoza recently tendered his resignation as chair for the Commonwealth's mental health advisory council due to frustrations by the Government's lack of support.

Professor Mendoza praised Mr. Abbot's efforts for taking action on the matters concerning the lack of services.

He said the funding pledge will raise the stakes and will wait for more action from both sides of politics.

What the Opposition has announced today is the most substantial investment in early intervention and particularly youth-focused mental health services ever in Australia, he said.

It will change the life outcomes for literally hundreds of thousands of young Australians and it will end a lifetime of misery for literally tens of thousands of Australians and their families.

Psychiatrist and Australian fo the Year Professor Patrick McGorry agreed that the extra funding will help mental health issues in the country.

(The funding is) focused on the top two recommendations of the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission report.

Earlier today, Health Minister Nicola Roxon admitted that more action is needed for mental health but dissented Mr. Abbot's vows as lacking credibility.

If you could believe his promises, there might be some merit in them, but we know that they're under-costed, we know that he hasn't kept his word on other commitments, she said.

He wants to pull out money from GP services and after-hours services and others that are actually designed to build a strong foundation upon which we can provide further services into the future.

Australia Medicine