Mental health overhaul call

By Sarah Schwager
THE head of Eastern Region Mental Health Association (ERMHA) has urged for a better framework of health services to combat the growing rate of mental illness in Greater Dandenong.
ERMHA chief executive officer Peter Waters said the mental health system was dysfunctional, catering only for those with severe mental illnesses.
“If you’re going to get sick, then get really sick. If you’re going to get a mental illness, go mad,” he said.
“Otherwise you won’t get help.”
Mr Waters said it was important that people with mental illnesses had a transition period after coming out of hospital, rather than going straight from an in patient to an outpatient.
“I would like to see a mental health service framework that looks at an individual as a person, not as a symptom.”
He said referring to someone who had schizophrenia as a schizophrenic was the same as referring to someone who had cancer as carcinogenic or cancerous.
He said ERMHA, in conjunction with Southern Health, had set up a 10-bedroom short-term facility in Springvale that would serve as a transitional facility for mental illness sufferers.
“What we need to do as a service provider is get better at embracing those people,” he said.
Mr Waters said Greater Dandenong in particular had high levels of refugees, an ageing population, gambling problems, illicit substance use and unemployment as well as low education and poor health status.
He said south eastern regions including Casey, Cardinia and Greater Dandenong had the highest rate per capita in Victoria of mental health.
Mr Waters said 20 per cent of the population would experience diagnosed mental health problems.
He said three per cent of that figure would experience a severe and enduring mental illness.
“In Casey, Cardinia and Greater Dandenong that equates to 12,000 people,” he said.
He said ERMHA saw 500 people a year, with a 20 per cent turnover, and in clinical services, which oversees medication management and symptom reduction, that number was even higher.
“If we work flat out for the next eight years, we would meet those needs,” he said.
“What we have is a system under siege.”
Mr Waters said there were 50 families moving into the growth corridor each week.
“The urban fringe is now the growth corridor. Housing estates are forcing people back into Greater Dandenong.”
He said that because of this growth they were seeing long waiting lists and an inability to access services.