In 2018 alone, 232 people aged 13-24 presented to Echuca Regional Health’s emergency department with mental health concerns.
And with those numbers on the rise, ERH chief executive Nick Bush said he would be ‘‘pleased and excited’’ if the Federal Government were to help fund this vital facility.
‘‘The need for increased mental health services in the local area are there,’’ he said.
‘‘I believe the mental health of young people would improve significantly if we could co-ordinate the current service providers in a centralised location.
‘‘(At the moment) we treat people at the hospital and look to refer them to mental health services but sometimes it’s hard to get the referrals picked up because of the lack of services. If we had a headspace it would help a lot.’’
Murray Primary Health Network has been lobbying for the expansion of headspace in the region, with the decision for where these services are located resting in Federal Government hands.
That decision is informed by the regional population health needs analysis submitted by the 31 PHN’s located across Australia.
Murray PHN chief executive Matt Jones said if the new service was established in Echuca, it was expected to cost about $2 million a year and provide young people aged 12-24 immediate access to mental health care.
‘‘We’re working with Echuca Regional Health and know there’s a number of young people presenting to the emergency department with a range of mental health needs,’’ he said.
‘‘We would like to be offering a better level of service and support.’’
At the moment headspace centres are based in Mildura, Swan Hill, Shepparton, Albury and Bendigo across the Murray PHN area.
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