Member for Euroa Steph Ryan says the report confirms urgent action, including significant funding in next month’s State Budget, is required to help the 1.2million Victorians who suffer from mental illness each year.
‘‘We have a mental health crisis in regional Victoria and services are just not being funded to cope,’’ Ms Ryan said.
‘‘I have heard heartbreaking stories from parents, partners and young people in our region who cannot access the help and support they need for either themselves or a loved one.
‘‘The move to establish a royal commission into mental health is a good one, but it must not be used as an excuse to delay fixing gaps in the system which are already so well known.’’
In a scathing report tabled in Parliament on Thursday, the Auditor-General took aim at the Andrews Labor Government for failing to address the imbalance between the demand for and supply of mental health services in Victoria.
Ms Ryan said data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare showed Victoria’s spending per person on mental health services was the lowest in Australia. Victoria also has one of the lowest number of mental health beds in the country.
‘‘The difficulties experienced across the state are compounded in regional Victoria, where access to services is made even more difficult because we lack the workforce required to treat people,’’ Ms Ryan said.
‘‘I am urging the Andrews Government to act immediately to address these shortcomings, instead of waiting two years for the royal commission to hand down its recommendations.’’
9°C