**7. A new paradigm for mental health funding**

Given the complexities of developing sustainable funding models for mental health, one solution would be to develop policy and funding strategies around a series of "pillars or "building blocks", similar to the Canadian Aboriginal Horizontal Framework and Council of Australian Governments National Indigenous Reform Agreement. This would align government policy to internationally accepted principles of health care and may allow a broader government overview and responsibility for the various components necessary to develop mental health. Funding could be allocated to each "pillar" and benchmarks attached to each pillar to assess progress. The "pillars" suggested are: Physical Health, Social Inclusion, Education, Effective Treatments, Substance Abuse, Mental Health Response to Disaster, Housing and Governance. Each one of these will be discussed in turn with a view to relevance and with mention of previous and current programs that could provide a basis of funding.
