PEAK body for community mental health, the Western Australian Association for Mental Health (WAAMH) has today welcomed the State Government's additional investment in mental health and called on the Federal Government to ensure it also meets its funding responsibilities.
“For decades mental health has been the underfunded poorer cousin of the health system, and news today that the State Government intends to address this with such a comprehensive plan for the next 10 years is good news indeed,” WAAMH president Alison Xamon said.
“However the plan is underpinned with the assumption that the Federal Government will continue to meet its funding obligations to mental health based on current levels and this is not so assured."
"For the plan to achieve its full potential, the Commonwealth Government will need to meet its commitments.”
Ms Xamon was delighted the plan's built around 'recovery' principles, to a person-centred, individualised and evidence based approach, and to consumer, family and carer inclusion.
"This brings mental health service delivery in WA in line with global best practice," she said.
WAAMH has also supported the approach of the plan which is seeking to reverse the priority of mental health funding to that of early intervention and supporting people experiencing mental health issues before they need acute care.
Ms Xamon said the plan clearly demonstrated this additional investment in community services would result in long term financial savings as well as avoiding unnecessary distress for individuals and families.
"We especially welcome the focus on youth mental health services as effective intervention with young people is essential to break the cycle of intergenerational mental ill-health," Ms Xamon said.
WAAMH also supported the announcement that Graylands Hospital would eventually be closed.
“Graylands is a hopelessly outdated facility and beds are better being placed in modern facilities closer to where people live, including regional and remote areas," Ms Xamon said.
However, WAAMH is seeking assurances that any money made from the closure of Graylands is reinvested back into mental health.
"It's essential there is extensive consultation about the timing of the transition of services from Graylands to ensure no-one falls through the gaps," Ms Xamon said. "It should also be supported by a community education process."
WAAMH welcomed the expansion of sub-acute services to prevent people being unnecessarily admitted to acute settings and to support others to successfully transition back to the community.
"We support the intention to improve front line emergency responses to mental health issues, both to avoid unnecessary involvement with acute mental health services by people who don’t need them and to ensure effective transition to acute treatment for those that do," Ms Xamon said.
Despite the welcome added investment in forensic services, WAAMH is still concerned at the long timeframe indicated for additional acute and sub-acute forensic beds.
“There is a great sense of urgency for these beds, so people avoid unnecessarily ending up in prison under the current Criminal Law Mentally Impaired Accused Act, because there's nowhere else to go,” Ms Xamon said.
Meanwhile, WAAMH further welcomed the expansion of State-wide specialist services to meet the needs of vulnerable groups within the community and to address specific mental health issues.
"WAAMH will now consult widely with its members to drill down into the detail of the Plan and feed this back," Ms Xamon said.
"We also look forward to being fully consulted on the implementation of the Plan as its effective implementation will be key to its success.”