Opening of Centre for Clinical Research at Graylands Hospital

25/10/96

Perth now has a world-class centre for psychiatric and mental health research endorsed by the World Health Organisation, Health Minister Kevin Prince announced today.

Mr Prince, who today opened the Centre for Clinical Research in Neuropsychiatry at Graylands Hospital, said the facility would have a wide-ranging impact on mental health services throughout Western Australia.

"The centre will no doubt contribute in a significant way towards making our mental health care service among the best in the world," he said.

"This facility has the capacity to progress further what we have already achieved in many areas of mental health in this State and that must be reassuring to the public, health professionals, particularly mental health workers and mental health clients."

The research centre, headed by University of Western Australia Professor of Psychiatry Assen Jablensky, is a joint-initiative between UWA and Graylands Hospital.

It has been established over the past three years.

Mr Prince said the facility would:

·       conduct basic and clinical research which was internationally competitive;

·       provide facilities for research teams which had received competitive grant funding;

·       attract talented researchers from around the world; and -

·       link together research, clinical teaching, community services and communication with consumers.

"A worldwide shortage of psychiatrists has had a big impact on services in WA," Mr Prince said.

"The presence of a strong research focus in WA psychiatry will no doubt encourage more well qualified professionals to come to our State.

"The centre is also ideally placed to fully utilise the scientific potential of the high-quality data bases we have in WA including the mental health information system.

"No other State in Australia can match the resource such data bases offer for rational service planning and scientific research."

Some of the work already under way at the centre includes:

·       studies on the genetic bases of schizophrenia and childhood autism;

·       research which aims to promote the health development of children in families where parents have suffered episodes of mental illness;

·       investigations into the brain mechanisms underlying psychological disturbances; and -

·       research on the role of good health during pregnancy, childbirth and early childhood in reducing mental health risks later in life.

Media contact: Kirsten Stoney 366 0300