Member for Barker, Tony Pasin MP hosted a Mental Health services round table last week as part of his push to secure a Head to Health adult mental health facility for the Limestone Coast.
The Federal member was joined by 20 stakeholders from key mental health service providers and State and Local Government in the region to discuss what Mr Pasin refers to as the ‘Shadow Pandemic’.
“The lockdowns and other restrictions that have been put in place to protect us from serious injury or even death have given rise to widespread mental health impacts, a phenomenon that has become known as the ‘shadow pandemic’,” Mr Pasin said.
“The Federal Government has embarked on system wide reform to ensure Australia’s mental health system is more compassionate, accessible and affordable,”
As part of this reform an investment of $820 million is earmarked to establish a national network of adult, child and youth mental health treatment centres across the country which will operate under a ‘no wrong door’ approach.
Head to Health Centres as they are known, are intended to complement, not replace or duplicate, mental health services already provided in the community.
“Approximately one in five Australians and nearly half of all adults will experience a mental or behavioural condition in their lifetime,” Mr Pasin said.
“I want to ensure that our region has the resources to help members of our community when they need it. This is why I’m advocating within Government for a Head to Health facility for the Limestone Coast,”
Recommendations on locations will be made through consultation with State Government and Primary Health Networks.
ENDS.
