❓ Mr. Kirkup asks about workforce shortfalls in WA mental health services for children, adolescents, and older persons, as highlighted in a Productivity Commission report. The Minister acknowledges the report, ongoing challenges, increased investment, and the need for collaborative solutions.
AnsweredQoN 947Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
947. Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP to the Minister for Mental Health:
I refer to the recently released
Productivity Commission report into mental health.
(1) In relation to Western Australia,
can the minister confirm that the report states —
� that there were community
ambulatory workforce shortfalls for child and adolescent services, and
older person services.
(2) If so, what are the reasons for
those shortfalls?
947. Mr Z.R.F. KIRKUP to the Minister for Mental Health:
I refer to the recently released
Productivity Commission report into mental health.
(1) In relation to Western Australia,
can the minister confirm that the report states —
� that there were community
ambulatory workforce shortfalls for child and adolescent services, and
older person services.
(2) If so, what are the reasons for
those shortfalls?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) The
member will be aware that the Productivity Commission report is an examination
of mental health services and policy right around the country. It is an
extensive report and the government is yet to form a view on its findings.
Obviously, we welcome any opportunity to continue to examine how we can better
improve mental health services in the community,� how we can build the
workforce that sits behind those services and, most importantly, how we can
improve the lives of those people who are impacted by mental health issues.
As the Prime Minister said,
groundbreaking data shows that poor mental health and suicide costs the country
$200 billion a year, so there is an opportunity to look at the expense of not
only providing these services, but also not providing these services. That is
one reason why the McGowan government is now making record levels of investment
into mental health services, including, for the first time, the mental health
budget being over $1 billion. But the sad thing is that ultimately it will not
be enough. We will continue to be challenged
by not only the high level of acuity and complexity of adult mental health
patients impacting on our emergency departments, but also young people,
adolescents and people under the age of 12, who are emerging as a huge
challenge for our mental health services. It is one challenge that we will all
have to meet together.
We have our ''Better Choices.
Better Lives. Western Australian Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drug Services
Plan 2015–25'', which is a pathway for mental health services in
Western Australia. It is funding agnostic.
It calls on funding from both the federal and state governments. I am sure that
if we work together with the federal
government, we can fight for a better future for mental health services in Western
Australia.
member will be aware that the Productivity Commission report is an examination
of mental health services and policy right around the country. It is an
extensive report and the government is yet to form a view on its findings.
Obviously, we welcome any opportunity to continue to examine how we can better
improve mental health services in the community,� how we can build the
workforce that sits behind those services and, most importantly, how we can
improve the lives of those people who are impacted by mental health issues.
As the Prime Minister said,
groundbreaking data shows that poor mental health and suicide costs the country
$200 billion a year, so there is an opportunity to look at the expense of not
only providing these services, but also not providing these services. That is
one reason why the McGowan government is now making record levels of investment
into mental health services, including, for the first time, the mental health
budget being over $1 billion. But the sad thing is that ultimately it will not
be enough. We will continue to be challenged
by not only the high level of acuity and complexity of adult mental health
patients impacting on our emergency departments, but also young people,
adolescents and people under the age of 12, who are emerging as a huge
challenge for our mental health services. It is one challenge that we will all
have to meet together.
We have our ''Better Choices.
Better Lives. Western Australian Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drug Services
Plan 2015–25'', which is a pathway for mental health services in
Western Australia. It is funding agnostic.
It calls on funding from both the federal and state governments. I am sure that
if we work together with the federal
government, we can fight for a better future for mental health services in Western
Australia.
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