❓ Mr. Love questions the Premier about the lack of mental health services in Karratha following a tragic suicide. The Premier acknowledges the need and cites progress in other regional areas, while noting local opposition hindering progress in Karratha.
AnsweredQoN 282Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MENTAL
HEALTH SERVICES — PILBARA
282. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Premier:
Last
February, Karratha resident Kristie Grabenhofer's son, Machlan,
tragically ended his life following a battle with mental health,
highlighting the critical need for dedicated mental health services in regional
Western Australia. With Karratha lacking the long-promised step-up, step-down
facility, residents are forced to rely on emergency telehealth services out of
Perth. Following her loss, Kristie has campaigned for there to be local
residential mental health services, including a petition attracting over 2 600
signatures.
When can the Karratha community
expect the establishment of proper mental health services in the Pilbara?
HEALTH SERVICES — PILBARA
282. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Premier:
Last
February, Karratha resident Kristie Grabenhofer's son, Machlan,
tragically ended his life following a battle with mental health,
highlighting the critical need for dedicated mental health services in regional
Western Australia. With Karratha lacking the long-promised step-up, step-down
facility, residents are forced to rely on emergency telehealth services out of
Perth. Following her loss, Kristie has campaigned for there to be local
residential mental health services, including a petition attracting over 2 600
signatures.
When can the Karratha community
expect the establishment of proper mental health services in the Pilbara?
AnswerView source ↗
It may have escaped the member's
attention, but the Minister for Mental Health is sitting just behind me. For
the purposes of question time, that would have been —
Mr R.S. Love interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Mr R.H. COOK : For the
purposes of Parliament, that would have been a great opportunity for the member
to ask the question of her. But I am very happy to receive this question
because under the WA Labor government, we have seen a significant expansion of
mental health services in regional Western Australia, including the step-up,
step-down facilities in Bunbury, Albany and Geraldton, and we are keen to
develop step-up, step-down facilities in Karratha and Port Hedland. For a range
of reasons, including opposition from some in the local community, we are
trying to work with the local community to find a suitable place and to get
that facility open as soon as possible. I am passionate about this. Having the
opportunity to have mental health services in the communities in which people
live will significantly increase their effectiveness and particularly when it
comes to step-up, step-down facilities, they allow people to be able to
transition in and out of acute or community care in a way that significantly
supports them on their mental health journey.
I would also add that as part of
our Geraldton Health Campus upgrade, we are significantly increasing the number
of mental health beds, including acute beds, at Geraldton hospital. No
government has backed regional mental health services as significantly as ours,
with significant investment and rollout of services.
attention, but the Minister for Mental Health is sitting just behind me. For
the purposes of question time, that would have been —
Mr R.S. Love interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Mr R.H. COOK : For the
purposes of Parliament, that would have been a great opportunity for the member
to ask the question of her. But I am very happy to receive this question
because under the WA Labor government, we have seen a significant expansion of
mental health services in regional Western Australia, including the step-up,
step-down facilities in Bunbury, Albany and Geraldton, and we are keen to
develop step-up, step-down facilities in Karratha and Port Hedland. For a range
of reasons, including opposition from some in the local community, we are
trying to work with the local community to find a suitable place and to get
that facility open as soon as possible. I am passionate about this. Having the
opportunity to have mental health services in the communities in which people
live will significantly increase their effectiveness and particularly when it
comes to step-up, step-down facilities, they allow people to be able to
transition in and out of acute or community care in a way that significantly
supports them on their mental health journey.
I would also add that as part of
our Geraldton Health Campus upgrade, we are significantly increasing the number
of mental health beds, including acute beds, at Geraldton hospital. No
government has backed regional mental health services as significantly as ours,
with significant investment and rollout of services.
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