❓ A WA parliamentary question on notice addresses community mental health services, focusing on demand, waiting times, youth counsellors, and resource allocation. The response provides data on service usage, waiting times, and the roles of youth counsellors, highlighting the focus on early intervention and community education.
AnsweredQoN 5567Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) Is demand for community mental health services continuing to increase?
(2) What is the average waiting time for patients to see a non-clinical community mental health service provider following discharge from hospital?
(3) What is the average waiting time for patients to see a clinical community based mental health service provider following discharge from hospital?
(4) Do local managers have flexibility to use resources for non-clinical community based mental health services if they are unable to recruit and retain clinical staff?
(5) How many youth counsellors are employed in metropolitan and in non-metropolitan mental health services?
(6) Where is each youth counsellor located, and what geographical areas do they cover?
(7) What is the average case load -
(a) per metropolitan youth counsellor; and
(b) per non-metropolitan youth counsellor?
(8) What is the average waiting time to see a youth counsellor employed -
(a) in metropolitan mental health services; and
(b) in non-metropolitan mental health services?
(2) What is the average waiting time for patients to see a non-clinical community mental health service provider following discharge from hospital?
(3) What is the average waiting time for patients to see a clinical community based mental health service provider following discharge from hospital?
(4) Do local managers have flexibility to use resources for non-clinical community based mental health services if they are unable to recruit and retain clinical staff?
(5) How many youth counsellors are employed in metropolitan and in non-metropolitan mental health services?
(6) Where is each youth counsellor located, and what geographical areas do they cover?
(7) What is the average case load -
(a) per metropolitan youth counsellor; and
(b) per non-metropolitan youth counsellor?
(8) What is the average waiting time to see a youth counsellor employed -
(a) in metropolitan mental health services; and
(b) in non-metropolitan mental health services?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
21 November 2007
Responded by
Minister for Child Protection representing the Minister for Health
Response time
35 days
(1) The number of people treated by public community mental health services in Western Australia has increased by 8% between 2004/05 (commencement of the Mental Health Strategy) and 2006/07. The number of occasions of service provided by public community mental health services increased by 13% for the same period.
(2) Not applicable. Referrals following discharge are to clinical staff. Refer also to question 4.
(3) In 2006, the median time for patients to be seen by a public community based mental health service provider following discharge from a public mental health inpatient unit was 4 days.
(4) Community Mental Health Services do not employ non-clinical community mental health service providers in clinical positions.
(5) There are nine youth counsellors employed across WA Community Mental Health Service.
Note: Services are also provided to youth through Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and Adult Mental Health Services (AMHS). CAMHS services clients aged up to 18 years, and AMHS services 18 years and older. Clients in both CAMHS and AMHS receive clinical services from a multi?disciplinary team including consultant psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, social workers and mental health nurses.
Two specific youth mental health services, YouthLink and YouthReach South that primarily target homeless youth. Area Mental Health Service CAMHS Directors manage these services.
(6) - (8)
Note: Youth counsellors primarily have a promotion, prevention and early intervention focus. A large proportion of their time is therefore non-clinical work involving community education and general mental health programs, such as Wellness Recovery Action Program (WRAP) and Gatekeeper (ie, they do not have a primary case-management role). Youth counsellor positions may be established as clinical or non-clinical depending on the needs of the community and local service profile.
Region
Number
Location
Area
Average case load
Average waiting time
Metropolitan
1
1
YouthLink
(Northbridge)
Peel
North Metropolitan
South Metropolitan
12
See note below.
1 day to 3 weeks depending on acuity.
Not applicable.
Sub-total
2
12
Country
2
2
2
1
Goldfields
Kimberley
Midwest
Pilbara - Karratha and Port Hedland
WACHS
5 - 8
Average waiting times depend on urgency and acuity. Most clients are seen as soon as possible.
Sub-total
7
5-8
Total
9
Note: The Peel Youth Counsellor position is not a clinical position and does not primarily case-manage consumers. It provides a range of early interventions for youth with mental health disorders, including consultation/liaison services to youth focussed community agencies, schools and indigenous agencies. The position also provides preventative group work and community education.
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(2) Not applicable. Referrals following discharge are to clinical staff. Refer also to question 4.
(3) In 2006, the median time for patients to be seen by a public community based mental health service provider following discharge from a public mental health inpatient unit was 4 days.
(4) Community Mental Health Services do not employ non-clinical community mental health service providers in clinical positions.
(5) There are nine youth counsellors employed across WA Community Mental Health Service.
Note: Services are also provided to youth through Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and Adult Mental Health Services (AMHS). CAMHS services clients aged up to 18 years, and AMHS services 18 years and older. Clients in both CAMHS and AMHS receive clinical services from a multi?disciplinary team including consultant psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, social workers and mental health nurses.
Two specific youth mental health services, YouthLink and YouthReach South that primarily target homeless youth. Area Mental Health Service CAMHS Directors manage these services.
(6) - (8)
Note: Youth counsellors primarily have a promotion, prevention and early intervention focus. A large proportion of their time is therefore non-clinical work involving community education and general mental health programs, such as Wellness Recovery Action Program (WRAP) and Gatekeeper (ie, they do not have a primary case-management role). Youth counsellor positions may be established as clinical or non-clinical depending on the needs of the community and local service profile.
Region
Number
Location
Area
Average case load
Average waiting time
Metropolitan
1
1
YouthLink
(Northbridge)
Peel
North Metropolitan
South Metropolitan
12
See note below.
1 day to 3 weeks depending on acuity.
Not applicable.
Sub-total
2
12
Country
2
2
2
1
Goldfields
Kimberley
Midwest
Pilbara - Karratha and Port Hedland
WACHS
5 - 8
Average waiting times depend on urgency and acuity. Most clients are seen as soon as possible.
Sub-total
7
5-8
Total
9
Note: The Peel Youth Counsellor position is not a clinical position and does not primarily case-manage consumers. It provides a range of early interventions for youth with mental health disorders, including consultation/liaison services to youth focussed community agencies, schools and indigenous agencies. The position also provides preventative group work and community education.
Notice: This document is created or edited using unregistered or evaluation copy of rtLib valid for testing or development purposes only. To use it for productive or any other purposes please register it. You may purchase the license on
http://www.rtlib.com
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