Jennifer McGrath has been appointed Mental Health Commissioner for the next five years.
She will be responsible for driving the Government's efforts to improve the mental health and wellbeing of Western Australians, including suicide prevention and reducing alcohol and other drug harms.
This includes leading and guiding the Mental Health Commission and the mental health, alcohol and other drug sector as it develops increasingly consumer-focused and recovery-oriented care.
Ms McGrath is tasked with implementing the Government's State Priorities 2020-2024, which highlights the immediate areas of focus in prevention; community support; community accommodation; treatment services; sector development; and system supports and processes.
The publicly funded sector includes hundreds of services, delivered by the main five public health service providers and more than 100 non-government mental health, alcohol and other drug service providers.
Ms McGrath has been acting in the role over the past year and has implemented enhanced sector governance arrangements, established strong relationships throughout the sector, and developed a system-wide leadership focus for the Commission.
As stated by Mental Health Minister Roger Cook:
"Ms McGrath has provided exceptional clarity of leadership over the past year, in what is one of the most complex and diverse sectors in government.
"Her commitment to collaboration and partnerships and her ability to deliver outcomes for people in our community will stand us in good stead for the future.
"The mental health, alcohol and other drug sector provides support to thousands of people in WA each year, many of whom are affected by incredibly personal and difficult experiences.
"We need a strong approach to prevention and wellbeing services to help keep our community well. And for those of us who experience trauma, extreme challenges in our life and mental health issues, we need quality and accessible services, tailored to the individual to lift us up."
