Staff morale is low at the National Mental Health Commission (NMHC).

In the aftermath of a recent governance crisis and the departure of its CEO, the NMHC has put up some distressing figures on staff morale in the Australian Public Service Employee Census. 

Reports say that over three-quarters of staff (78 per cent) express no confidence in the Senior Executive Service (SES), citing feelings of betrayal and despondency.

Employees overwhelmingly negate statements about SES teamwork (81 per cent), clear articulation of agency direction (70 per cent), and effective communication (81 per cent). 

These stark figures reveal a gap in selecting leaders with an understanding of an agency's fabric.

The NMHC's situation is alarming for the Australian Public Service Commission and the health minister, resembling pre-administration conditions for local governments. 

Despite stabilisation with an interim CEO, issues persist from outsourcing communications contracts to a private agency linked to gambling and politics.

Census highlights include 78 per cent negativity on internal communication and 86 per cent negative views on change management. 

A concerning 66 per cent acknowledge burnout, indicating potential harm to employees during the crisis.

The survey reveals a 65 per cent negative rating on agency goal success, with 77 per cent of staff expressing a desire to leave, posing a severe long-term challenge for the NMHC.