The WA Government is providing an additional $3.8 million to the WA Country Health Service to expand existing inpatient mental health service capacity in the Goldfields.
The funding will pay for 12 full-time equivalent mental health staff including doctors, nurses and allied health professionals. This expansion will improve mental health inpatient treatment and care for people in the Goldfields region.
The increase in funding follows recommendations from recent reviews relating to improved staffing levels and a call for more mental health specialist staff at Kalgoorlie Health Campus.
Since 2015-16, there have been more than 250 patient admissions in the specialised mental health unit at Kalgoorlie Health Campus every year.
A number of improvements have already been made to the infrastructure to improve the mental health inpatient unit at the hospital.
The increase in funds comes from the Mental Health Commission and will bring the region’s total funding for public mental health services to $10.48 million in 2018-19.
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.
Source: WA Government