$61.6 Million Combined Commitment to Mental Health in Western Australia

People battling mental health disorders became more stressed and anxious. LightField Studios/Shuttertock

Australia’s federal and Western Australia (WA) state governments have pledged to invest $61.6 million (US$44.9 million) in mental health and suicide prevention services in the state over the next five years.

As part of the agreement, the Commonwealth will put forward $35.1 million and the WA state government $26.5 million to expand mental health care services to where they are most needed, with a focus on children, support for people who have attempted suicide, and new eating disorder services.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said in a release on April 17 that the partnership will have a major positive impact on mental health in the state.

“This landmark partnership between the Commonwealth and WA will have a significant impact on the lives of many Australians across the state, including young Australians and children, who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Hunt said.

“It will help save lives and protect lives.”

The funding includes $40.4 million to support individuals following a suicide attempt and/or suicide crisis, and $12.6 million to set up a Head to Health Kids Hub to improve access to multidisciplinary team care for children.

A further $8.6 million will go towards establishing a new intensive day program, along with a specialist multidisciplinary outpatient clinic for people suffering from eating disorders.

The agreement also intends to deepen the partnership between the Commonwealth and WA state government in managing the mental health and suicide prevention system via greater data sharing and evaluation of services, closer integration of referral pathways, and working together more closely in the regional planning and commissioning of services.

This closer co-operation is expected to result in a more efficient, seamless, and person-centred system for West Australians.

According to the WA Mental Health Commission, more than 456,000 people were prescribed mental health related medication in WA in 2018-19, representing 17.5 percent of the population, while 2.5 percent (63,415) of the state’s population received clinical mental health care, up from more than 60,000 in 2017-18.

Meanwhile, WA has the second highest age-standardised rate of suicide among children aged five to 17 in Australia, and the highest age-standardised rate of suicide among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

In 2020, 381 West Australians died by suicide, representing 2.54 percent of total deaths state-wide. While this figure shows a decrease in the number of registered suicides compared to 418 in 2019, the average rate in WA is 14.3 deaths per 100,000, which is higher than the national average of 12.1 deaths per 100,000.

Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, David Coleman, said a key focus of the agreement is to reduce the suicide rate in WA communities.

“As a result of this agreement, Western Australians discharged from hospital following a suicide attempt will be provided at least three months of appropriate follow up care,” he said.

“We know the risk of suicide is greatest in the days and weeks following a previous suicide attempt, yet right now not everyone in this group receives follow up care. These people are amongst our most vulnerable and through this agreement we are committing to do everything we can to support them.”

The $61.6 million agreement forms part of the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement, in which the federal government has invested close to $3 billion.