Legislative Council Fifty-First Parliament, Second Session (51-2) 51 2 Parliament of South Australia Legislative Council published Question Time Suicide Prevention SUICIDE PREVENTION The Hon. S.G. WADE Legislative Council SUICIDE PREVENTION The Hon. S.G. WADE (14:36): I have a supplementary question. I refer to the minister's comments in relation to partnerships to prevent suicide in drought-affected areas. I now ask: what is the government's proposal for mental health counsellors this year? I understand we had two last year; how many will there be this year, and where will they be based? The Hon. G.E. GAGO Legislative Council Minister for Environment and Conservation, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister Assisting the Minister for Health SUICIDE PREVENTION The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Environment and Conservation, Minister for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, Minister Assisting the Minister for Health) (14:36): I just seek clarification: is this under our drought initiative? Members interjecting: The President Legislative Council The PRESIDENT: Order! The Hon. G.E. GAGO Legislative Council The Hon. G.E. GAGO: We have put in place over 100 additional clinicians in our mental health system in the last couple of years in a wide range of different positions—mental health nurse practitioners and counsellors—both here in the city and in country areas. Given that the honourable member has failed to give me details of exactly what positions he is talking about, I can tell him that this government has put over 100 additional mental health clinicians on the ground, and these are not people working in administration: these are people working on the ground to deliver first-hand mental health services, treatment and support to mental health care consumers. As I said, this government has injected over $107.9 million into its mental health reform agenda to transform and rebuild our mental health system.