Opposition has short memory on mental health

Author: Mia Davies
Published on: 14-October-2009

“The former Labor Government had no issue defining these programmes as non-essential despite evidence that they were delivering real outcomes for the community.”

Ms Davies said that mental illness was a significant issue for remote and regional areas of the State with suicide rates higher and people less likely to seek treatment for depression or other mental illness in these areas.

“I’m pleased that some regional communities are using Royalties for Regions funding to find new and innovative ways to address mental health issues in regional WA,” she said.

“Royalties for Regions contributes funding over and above standard government expenditure – delivering funding to areas of need as identified by the community, for projects driven by the community.”

Projects such as the Youth Mental Health and Drug / Alcohol Misuse treatment access program in the Wheatbelt, which received $149,850 from the Regional Grants Program, address a gap in suicide prevention and mental health services.

“That is why Royalties for Regions funding is so important for our rural communities. It’s not replacing core government funding, it is funding services that previously didn’t exist or wouldn’t receive funding under normal budget processes,” Ms Davies said.

“RfR is not intended to replace core government expenditure on vital services such as health and education, but rather to add to this funding to boost capacity and services in regional areas,” Ms Davies said.

Regional areas including the Kimberley, Esperance, Kalgoorlie and the Wheatbelt have received Regional Grants Program funding for mental health prevention and care projects. The Nationals WA will continue to work to ensure mental health services are available to all people that need them, regardless of where they live.