Tuesday, 15 October 2019

 Dr CUMMING (Western Metropolitan) (18:02): My adjournment matter this evening is for the Minister for Mental Health in the other place. The action I seek is for the minister to show evidence as to how the child and youth mental health services within Western Metropolitan Region provide the best care available and meet the needs of those within my region. The incidence of psychological distress within Western Metropolitan Region is amongst the highest in the state and under-reported by the community, and unfortunately the incidence is rapidly increasing amongst children and young adults. Amongst children and youth there is also a high number with multiple challenges, including physical disabilities, poverty and homelessness. Early intervention together with comprehensive, holistic and evidence-based care is essential in mental health, especially in order to improve long-term mental health outcomes for children and young adults.

The chief psychiatrist’s advice is that care is provided in a person’s area of origin. Research shows that the provision of care within the area of origin increases access to multiple health professionals and decreases the likelihood of vulnerable people falling through the cracks and missing out on the care that they need. Mental health services for children and young adults in Western Metropolitan Region are split into multiple locations based on age, type of mental health issues and also their severity. The services available are focused within the inner western and northern metropolitan areas. There is a small number of inpatient services, and they are relied upon heavily by young people in other regional areas. Travel times for many patients and families is several hours by car, if indeed they have access to a car, and presumably they are also required to travel between services to have their needs met when those needs are multiple. Comparatively, other services in the east provide multidisciplinary care and they are in just the one location. It is unclear why and whether services within the Western Metropolitan Region are really based on best practice standards of care and are meeting the needs of those needing the services.