Residents of rural and regional Western Australia are receiving specialist mental health care closer to home and avoiding transfer as the WA Country Health Service's Mental Health Emergency Telehealth Service celebrates one year.
Connected across 83 sites spanning 2.2 million square kilometres, the 24/7 support service has supported frontline clinicians to care for more than 1,000 patients in its first year of operation.
Of these cases, more than 80 per cent have been able to receive care in their local area, close to family, friends and broader support networks.
This service was rolled out to further support on-the-ground mental health services.
Through the Command Centre, the Mental Health Emergency Telehealth Service supports rural and remote clinicians to care for people of all ages experiencing a mental health crisis or drug and alcohol issues.
The service also provides mental health training and information to 83 hospitals and health services as well as Silver Chain facilities.
As stated by Mental Health Minister Roger Cook:
"One year on, the WA Country Health Service's Mental Health Emergency Telehealth Service has now reached 83 sites and helped frontline clinicians to care for more than 1,000 patients.
"Of these, more than 80 per cent have been able to avoid transfer and receive specialist care on country. This has helped improve the cultural security of the service, by enabling people to stay closer to home and closer to their social and support networks.
"There are more than 20 mental health experts manning the Mental Health Emergency Telehealth Service and their work and that of our frontline clinicians has undoubtedly seen positive outcomes for residents of country WA."
