The McGowan Labor Government's record $495 million investment in the Mental Health Commission in the 2021-22 State Budget will provide a significant boost to community-based services and fund its election commitments.
This record investment includes $311 million for community supported accommodation and supports across Western Australia and $135.7 million for delivering outpatient treatment services, to help people avoid hospitalisation and get the treatment and care they need in the community.
The announcement, made today at the new community care unit in Orelia, aligns with the State Priorities for Mental Health, Alcohol and other Drugs 2020-2024 and delivers on the need for more community-based services in mental health treatment and prevention.
Community beds provide an alternative to hospital for people who need mental health or alcohol and drug supports. Funded initiatives include:
- $12.5 million for a purpose built 20-bed alcohol and other drug withdrawal rehabilitation facility in the Perth metropolitan area;
- $25.5 million for Step Up/Step Down facilities that provide a community mental health service and short-term residential support;
- $27.7 million for youth long-term housing and psychosocial support plus in-reach support packages to assist young people to live in the community while accessing mental health and AOD supports.
The new services add to existing projects already underway, including the $24.5 million 20-bed Community Care Unit opening in Orelia this September and the $25.1 million Youth Homelessness Facility soon to open in Queens Park.
The additional investment results in more than $1.114 billion allocated to the Mental Health Commission for mental health, alcohol and other drug services in the 2021-22 financial year - a massive 11 per cent increase from the previous year.
The 2021-22 State Budget will also invest $31.7 million in expanding WA's eating disorder treatment services to include central hubs and clinical and community spokes.
The McGowan Government's mental health boost includes a $129.9 million youth package to assist in keeping our young people out of hospital, giving people an opportunity to recover in the community, close to their personal support networks.
Mental health, alcohol and other drug services in your local area can be found at http://www.myservices.org.au
As stated by Mental Health Minister Stephen Dawson:
"The McGowan Government is committed to providing contemporary mental health services that will better support the individual needs of Western Australians.
"This means providing more services in the community, to provide appropriate care closer to where individuals live, their families and their supports, and outside of hospital emergency departments.
"This budget reflects our commitment to protect the health of our community."
As stated by Health Minister Roger Cook:
"This is an important commitment to ensuring the entire health system adapts and responds to providing the best care possible.
"This approach puts emphasis on prevention and early intervention to identify mental health issues.
"This was a key part of the Sustainable Health Review which is helping to guide our health services for now and in future.
"But we also must continue to focus on treatment which as we know is getting even more complex because of COVID-19."
