Opening of Armadale Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service Clinic

22/9/98

The new Armadale Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service Clinic in Kelmscott has entered the field as a leader in helping to prevent youth suicide, Health Minister John Day said today.

"The number of youth suicides in Australia in recent years has made society realise that some young people are overwhelmed by life's problems," Mr Day said.

"It is reassuring that this new clinic will be the first of its kind in Western Australia with a suicide intervention officer."

Mr Day was officially opening the clinic, which he said would not only be a valuable asset for the local community but would also be an important component of the newly-formed South East Metropolitan Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service.

"From today, Armadale joins the new Kalamunda Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service and the existing Bentley services, to form a joint service - the South East Metropolitan Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service," the Minister said.

"Through this co-operation, Armadale will be able to provide more comprehensive care ranging from community-based services to acute in-patient mental health services.

"The integration of services and organisational infrastructure will also ensure a smooth transition from one specialist mental health centre to another and allow access to a wider range of mental health professionals.

"This is the first time mental health services in WA have worked together in this way to achieve a common goal."

Mr Day said the Armadale Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service Clinic employed eight clinicians including psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and community and mental health workers.

"Each year in Australia, between 10 and 15 per cent of children and adolescents suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder," he said.

"It is estimated that three per cent of this group will have a severe impairment and need assistance from a specialist child and adolescent mental health service."

Mr Day said that in addition to the Kelmscott clinic, the Armadale Health Service redevelopment included a 255 bed in-patient facility for mental health patients.

This would enable patients to be treated closer to home with the opportunity to stay in the community rather than be hospitalised.

The Minister said the $50 million Armadale Health Service redevelopment program would provide a vast range of services.

"Since the announcement of the redevelopment, a range of new services, in addition to the Kelmscott clinic, have been introduced," he said.

"These include a new, five-chair renal dialysis satellite service; expansion of the gastro-intestinal endoscopy service; expansion of the GP/midwife shared-care obstetrics service to include first-time mothers with uncomplicated pregnancies and the addition of a new CT scanner.

"Soon the residents of the Armadale region will have state-of-the-art public health care services at their doorstep and will no longer have to travel to Fremantle or Perth for treatment.

"This demonstrates the Government's commitment to bringing health services closer to where people live."

Media contact: Kaye Hopkins 9322 2311