Senior health officials will collaborate to improve mental health services for the region over the next three years.
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The Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network and Local Health District are preparing to launch the "Murrumbidgee Mental Health, Suicide Prevention and Alcohol and Other Drugs Regional Plan 2021-2024" after hearing community feedback on a draft of the plan.
MPHN senior manager mental health drug and alcohol Anita McRae said the plan focuses on five key areas including identifying at risk groups and improving follow up care for people.
"Really, what that's about is ensuring that there is coordination of services that we are working towards [and] a continuous improvement of the delivery of services," Ms McRae said.
"Within mental health, it's really important that people aren't needing to retell this story over and over. And that's something that we've certainly taken on board and reviewed the way that we deliver our mental health services to reduce that wherever we can."
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Ms McRae said the plan will also look at improving central access points and navigation services for people who might find it difficult to access the often "clunky" mental health system.
The formation of regional mental health plans is one of the recommendations made by the Productivity Commission it its landmark inquiry into the cost of mental health in Australia, released in November.
The commission found mental illness is, "on a conservative basis", costing Australia about $200-$220 billion per year and affects many Australians who "do not receive the treatment and support they need".
The report recommended the government strengthen cooperation between Primary Health Networks, which receive federal funding, and Local Health Districts, which are largely funded at a state level.
The federal Department of Health is taking public consultation on the report as the government considers its findings, but Ms McRae said it was pleasing to see Murrumbidgee health authorities has already implemented some of the recommendations around pooling resources to commission services on a regional level.
Ms McRae encouraged people to look out for one another as Wagga enters a potentially difficult time for mental health in the lead up to Christmas and the one year anniversary of last summer's tragic bushfires.
"It's a really exciting time for a lot of people looking forward to holidays, but for some other people, it's a really stressful time of year," she said.
If you need support or are struggling with mental illness, please contact any of these crisis support helplines:
- Lifeline: 13 11 14 www.lifeline.org.au
- Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au
- Kids Helpline (for people aged 5-25 years): 1800 55 1800 www.kidshelpline.com.au
- Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 www.beyondblue.org.au
- If you are in the Murrumbidgee, you can use this free online resource to locate services: mapmyrecovery.org.au OR call AccessLine: 1800 800 944
Catie McLeod
Catie is a reporter at The Daily Advertiser covering health and Wagga City Council. You can contact her on c.mcleod@dailyadvertiser.com.au or 0475 819 651.
Catie is a reporter at The Daily Advertiser covering health and Wagga City Council. You can contact her on c.mcleod@dailyadvertiser.com.au or 0475 819 651.
