❓ A parliamentary question regarding the adequacy of mental health services in the Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, including funding, service availability, and assessment of needs. The Minister's response outlines existing services, funding allocation, and future considerations for additional support.
AnsweredQoN 4258Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to concerns raised with me by local government authorities and residents during my visit to the Wheatbelt in relation to the stress on farmers and their families and the scarcity of funding and services for mental health support and counselling services, and ask:
(a) in what Wheatbelt towns are State Government-funded counselling and other mental health services available; and
(i) what are the details of those services;
(b) has the Minister assessed the adequacy of the mental health support services provided in Wheatbelt towns; and
(i) if not, why not; and
(ii) if not, will he undertake to do so;
(c) what is the total in State Government funding allocated to provide counselling and other mental health support services to Wheatbelt communities;
(d) what action, if any, has the Minister taken to secure more funding for mental health support services in the Wheatbelt?
(a) in what Wheatbelt towns are State Government-funded counselling and other mental health services available; and
(i) what are the details of those services;
(b) has the Minister assessed the adequacy of the mental health support services provided in Wheatbelt towns; and
(i) if not, why not; and
(ii) if not, will he undertake to do so;
(c) what is the total in State Government funding allocated to provide counselling and other mental health support services to Wheatbelt communities;
(d) what action, if any, has the Minister taken to secure more funding for mental health support services in the Wheatbelt?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
31 January 2011
Responded by
Minister for Mental Health
Response time
83 days
(a) The WA Country Health Service (WACHS) has mental health clinics based in Narrogin, Northam, Merredin and Gingin that provide services to all towns in the following shires:
The Avon Valley; which includes the
Shires of Northam, Toodyay, Goomalling, and York.
The Central Wheatbelt; which includes the
Shires of Beverley, Bruce Rock, Corrigin, Cunderdin and Quairading.
The Eastern Wheatbelt; which includes the
Shires of Kellerberrin, Koorda, Merredin, Mt Marshall, Narembeen, Nungarin, Trayning, Yilgarn, Westonia and Wyalkatchem.
The Coastal Wheatbelt; which includes the
Shires of Chittering, Dalwallinu, Dandaragan, Gingin, Jurien, Moora, Victoria Plains and Wongan-Ballidu.
The Southern Wheatbelt; which includes the
Shires of Wagin, West Arthur, Williams, Boddington, Wandering, Pingelly, Brookton, Cuballing, Narrogin, Kulin, Lake Grace, Dumbleyung, Kondinin, Wickepin
(i) Mental health services in the Wheatbelt have 33.2 clinical FTE servicing a population of 73,000 within a geographical area of 156,000 sq/km.
Services include community based Child and Adolescent, Adult and Seniors Mental Health programs.
Visiting services are provided to all communities in the Wheatbelt on a regular basis and include assessment, treatment and case management for people with mental illness and support for their families.
Supportive counselling, therapeutic interventions and liaison and consultation with other services including GP's, local hospitals and human service agencies are delivered.
Mental health presentations are delivered to community groups on subjects such as stress and depression.
After hours services are provided by Rurallink; free call number 1800 552 002.
I have been advised that there are no specialist psychiatric inpatient facilities in the Wheatbelt region however, should specialist inpatient facilities be required, they are accessible from the metro area.
(b i-ii) I am advised that an assessment of the adequacy of support services has occurred in the Wheatbelt and that mental health services are considered adequate to meet current demand. Monitoring of service demand is in place and will indicate if future service development in the Wheatbelt is required.
(c) The annual budget for mental health services in the Wheatbelt Mental Health Service is approximately $4.7M.
(d) WACHS is considering making a proposal to the Mental Health Commission for additional funding for mental health services in the Wheatbelt.
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The Avon Valley; which includes the
Shires of Northam, Toodyay, Goomalling, and York.
The Central Wheatbelt; which includes the
Shires of Beverley, Bruce Rock, Corrigin, Cunderdin and Quairading.
The Eastern Wheatbelt; which includes the
Shires of Kellerberrin, Koorda, Merredin, Mt Marshall, Narembeen, Nungarin, Trayning, Yilgarn, Westonia and Wyalkatchem.
The Coastal Wheatbelt; which includes the
Shires of Chittering, Dalwallinu, Dandaragan, Gingin, Jurien, Moora, Victoria Plains and Wongan-Ballidu.
The Southern Wheatbelt; which includes the
Shires of Wagin, West Arthur, Williams, Boddington, Wandering, Pingelly, Brookton, Cuballing, Narrogin, Kulin, Lake Grace, Dumbleyung, Kondinin, Wickepin
(i) Mental health services in the Wheatbelt have 33.2 clinical FTE servicing a population of 73,000 within a geographical area of 156,000 sq/km.
Services include community based Child and Adolescent, Adult and Seniors Mental Health programs.
Visiting services are provided to all communities in the Wheatbelt on a regular basis and include assessment, treatment and case management for people with mental illness and support for their families.
Supportive counselling, therapeutic interventions and liaison and consultation with other services including GP's, local hospitals and human service agencies are delivered.
Mental health presentations are delivered to community groups on subjects such as stress and depression.
After hours services are provided by Rurallink; free call number 1800 552 002.
I have been advised that there are no specialist psychiatric inpatient facilities in the Wheatbelt region however, should specialist inpatient facilities be required, they are accessible from the metro area.
(b i-ii) I am advised that an assessment of the adequacy of support services has occurred in the Wheatbelt and that mental health services are considered adequate to meet current demand. Monitoring of service demand is in place and will indicate if future service development in the Wheatbelt is required.
(c) The annual budget for mental health services in the Wheatbelt Mental Health Service is approximately $4.7M.
(d) WACHS is considering making a proposal to the Mental Health Commission for additional funding for mental health services in the Wheatbelt.
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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