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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fourth Parliament, Second Session (54-2)
2021-12-01 Daily Xml
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Mental Health Services

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY (15:04): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking a question of the Minister for Health and Wellbeing regarding the lack of mental health services.

Leave granted.

The Hon. R.P. WORTLEY: The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Association issued a media release today that says, and I quote:

At a time when the COVID pandemic is seriously impacting mental health, up to 60 per cent of calls to the only state government-run mental health crisis lifeline are going unanswered.

This is up from the 44 per cent that went unanswered last year, and the minister had previously advised the parliament that no additional staff were being budgeted for this year. My questions to the minister are:

1. How can people have confidence in their access to mental health support when almost two-thirds of their cries for help literally go unanswered?

2. After almost half of the calls went unanswered last year, why did the minister fail to ensure that additional resources were available for the crisis that we are undergoing today?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (15:05): I would like to clarify with the honourable member: is the honourable member referring to the emergency triage and liaison service or the Mental Health Triage Service?

The PRESIDENT: I will give this as a supplementary to the honourable member.

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