Kalgoorlie Hospital to have inpatient facility for mental health patients

20/10/97

Construction of an inpatient facility for mental health patients will start at Kalgoorlie Regional Hospital by the end of 1998, Health Minister Kevin Prince said today.

In Kalgoorlie to officially launch Mental Health Week in the Goldfields, Mr Prince said such a facility was much needed and long awaited in the area.

Plans were already under way to develop a suitable facility in Kalgoorlie to treat mental health patients as close to their homes as possible. The level of accommodation and costings would be determined during the planning stage.

The project is part of a $47 million capital works program over five years which will ensure a variety of new services and initiatives for mental health consumers throughout the State.

Similar facilities are also planned for Broome and Albany.

"The intention is to provide services where they are needed so that in the near future, only people with very complex or severe psychiatric disorders will need to go to Graylands Hospital in Perth," Mr Prince said.

"This new facility will undoubtedly reduce the number of mental health patients who have to travel to the metropolitan area for treatment.

"The Government wants to provide good locally-based services both in the metropolitan area and in rural and remote Western Australia."

Mr Prince said one in five Western Australians would, at some stage in their lives, require assistance with mental health problems.

The State Government recognised some time ago that mental health services in WA had experienced difficulties and it had now implemented many of the recommendations of the Mental Health Task Force and the State Mental Health Plan.

Several events have been planned in Kalgoorlie this week to highlight the issue of mental illness in the community.

These include:

·      a workshop by leading author and journalist Anne Deveson on empowerment of mental health consumers and their carers;

·      an art exhibition;

·      a men's day;

·      an education session by visiting consultant psychiatrist Dr Chris Carter on nocturnal sleep disturbance; and -

·      an underage rage for children aged five to 17 years.

"I congratulate the people of Kalgoorlie who have organised a very rewarding and worthwhile series of events which will undoubtedly highlight the issue of mental health within the community," Mr Prince said.

"I am certain this week of activities will focus community attention on mental disorders and contribute significantly to broadening public knowledge about this issue."

Media contact: Peter Harris (08) 9222 9211