The prevalence of mental illness is found to be higher in hospital and other health care settings than in the general population, signifying the already substantial discrepancy between what mental health care is needed and the availability of services. Australian researchers have highlighted a great need for better mental health care services across local health care settings, including general hospitals (Sharrock and Happell 2000), parentcraft hospitals (McMahon et al 2001), nursing homes (Arie 2001; Snowdon 2001), for children and adolescents (Birleson et al 2000), and health care in general (Mott and Kingsley 1999). Similar claims have been made in Britain (Mavundla 2000). Common health care issues that drive these claims will now be reviewed.