MEDIA RELEASE - Youth Mental Health Must Be An Election Priority
Currently 20% of the Australian adult population (16-85yrs) is suffering from a mental illness. If you live in the Shire of Yarra Ranges however, you are 10% more likely to suffer from a mental or behavioural disorder than if you live in other parts of Australia, giving you a 1 in 4 chance of living with a mental illness.
For people living with a mental illness, getting help can be challenging. In 2009 there was a 42% increase in the number of people in the Shire getting a mental health care plan from their GP. Whilst this is encouraging, the Shire has significantly more hospitals admissions for mental disorders than the Victorian State average. Worse still, young people account for the highest proportion of hospital admissions to mental health units, including emergency admissions.
Dr Barbara Inness, Chair of the Eastern Ranges GP Association, said, "mental health services are a scarce resource in outer metropolitan and rural communities.
"We desperately need more mental health services that are accessible to the community. Young people in particular need to be able to access services that look and feel like a comfortable place for them to visit. Research shows 75% of mental health disorders begin before the age of 25 years. But 70% of young people who experience mental health and substance use problems don't seek help.
Chief Executive Officer, Kristin Michaels, said, "The Outer East has been without a site for youth mental health services for far too long now. Young people from the Yarra Valley and the gateway suburbs deserve the same access to services that their city cousins receive.
"Mental health service providers in the outer east are keen to work in partnership to provide good quality, early intervention services for young people. What's stopping us is a lack of targeted funding that builds infrastructure for service delivery and recognizes the particular needs of young people in accessing a comfortable and confidential service.
"In this election period we call upon the Federal Government to recognize the needs of the young people in the Outer East, and commit to providing a service for young people to safely access mental health assistance when and where they need it", she said.
Eastern Ranges GP Association represents over 200 general practitioners (GPs) in Melbourne's outer eastern and southern suburbs. It provides over 600 free mental health services to the community each month.
CONTACT: Kristin Michaels, CEO, Ph: 9871 1000
ISSUED: 26 July 2010