New funding for mental health services is being criticized by psychiatrists as insufficient and lacking strategic direction. Experts argue that a key issue is the absence of comprehensive data identifying the most critical shortages in the system. This lack of information hinders effective allocation of resources, rendering recent funding increases “piecemeal” rather than impactful. Concerns center on the absence of a broader, coordinated plan to address systemic issues within mental healthcare. Psychiatrists emphasize the need for detailed data collection to accurately assess needs and measure the effectiveness of funding initiatives. Without this, improvements will likely be limited and fail to address the most pressing challenges facing the sector. The current approach risks misdirecting funds and perpetuating existing inequalities in access to care.