Early indentification of mental health problems vital says Minister

17/10/99
Early identification of mental health problems is vital in managing the needs of an ageing population, Health Minister John Day said today.
Mr Day said over the next 30 years, more people were likely to suffer a range of mental health problems.
"It is vital that the community has the knowledge, skills and resources to tackle these challenges and be effective in either helping those in need or in helping themselves," he said.
Mr Day was speaking at the start of Mental Health Week 1999 which has the theme Healthy Mind, Healthy Life.
He said the emphasis of Mental Health Week was on the early identification of mental health problems and on developing early help seeking behaviour.
"The State Government is committed to working with the community to identify the early signs of mental health problems and to find solutions to these problems," he said.
Mr Day who said there were very few people who were not touched in some way by a friend or relative with a mental illness.
"Mental health problems are a fact of everyday life and this needs to be accepted by the community," he said.
"One in five people in the community will, at some time in their lives, require assistance with problems relating to mental health.
"This is why the Coalition Government committed approximately $10 million from its capital works budget in 1999/2000 towards new or improved mental health facilities thoughout the State.
"This is part of an ongoing program which has seen the annual funding for mental health in WA boosted by more than $80 million over the last five years by the Coalition Government to a total of more than $160 million."
Mr Day said over the last 12 months the Coalition Government had launched a significant number of policy documents as well as expanding and opening a number of mental health facilities throughout WA.
An example of these include: -

• the opening of the Centre for Mental Health Services Research;
• extensions to Swan Adult Mental Health Service;
• the opening of the Gascoyne Health Service Mental Health Building; and -
• the opening of the Albany Regional Hospital Inpatient Mental Health unit.

Mr Day said through the Mental Health Division of the Health Department, the State Government was an important sponsor for the development and implementation of Mental Health Week.
Media contact: Mark Thompson on 9213 6600