Western Australia Minister for Mental Health Roger Cook

New Mental Health Service In The South-West A Step Closer

Victor P Taffa

• Groundwork begins for a Bunbury community mental health step up/step down service
• Residential mental health service is expected to open early next year

Work has started on the new community mental health step up/step down service for people in the South-West region.

“This service will provide the people in the South-West region with a new option for mental health treatment and care in their community. Offering appropriate community mental health services is vital to ensure people who need help get the best possible treatment, it also frees up beds in our hospitals.” Minister for Mental Health Roger Cook said.

10-bed service located on Vittoria Road in Glen Iris (Bunbury) aims to support people with their mental health in a residential style setting, close to support from their family and friends.

Community mental health step up/step down services are a State Government initiative to provide vital short-term residential support and individualised care. They can reduce hospital admissions by providing help to people experiencing a mental health episode in the community, and they also serve as a transition for people being discharged from hospital.

South-West community mental health step up/step down service is expected to be operational by early 2020, with the State Government providing $4.56 Million in capital funding from Royalties for Regions.

“As the local MP for Bunbury, I am pleased to see works begin on this election commitment. I have been calling for more mental health services for our community and the McGowan Government is delivering.” Bunbury MLA Don Punch said.

McGowan Government is investing more than $21 Million in capital funding over the next 3 years in community mental health step up/step downs to establish services in:

• Broome,
• Bunbury,
• Geraldton,
• Kalgoorlie,
• Karratha.

This funding is in addition to almost $6 Million in 2018-19 provided for the existing step up/step down services in:

• Albany,
• Joondalup,
• Rockingham.

1 in 5 Australians will be affected by a mental health issue each year and the vast majority of those people receive their care while living and working in their community, among their family and friends.

For support, call beyondblue on 1300 224 636 for 24/7 free counselling or in a crisis situation call Lifeline on 13 11 14, the Mental Health Emergency Response Line on 1300 555 788 (metro) or 1800 676 822 (Peel) or Rurallink on 1800 552 002.