Gateway Health calls for Mental Health and Wellbeing Local for Albury-Wodonga

Gateway Health calls for Mental Health and Wellbeing Local for Albury-Wodonga

Gateway Health is calling for the establishment of a permanent Mental Health and Wellbeing Local in Albury-Wodonga, providing people across the border region with easier access to community-based mental health care and support.

Gateway Health currently operates the Head to Health service across Southern NSW and North East Victoria, but says the size of the Albury-Wodonga community and the level of unmet mental health need warrant a permanent and more comprehensive service.

Gateway Health CEO Dr Trent Dean said the region had a population of almost 100,000 people, with Gateway Health’s analysis estimating that more than 3,000 people require moderate to high-intensity primary mental health care.

“There is a gap in our mental health system for people who need more support than lower-intensity services can provide, but who may not need or be eligible for acute or specialist mental health services,” Dr Dean said.

“For many people, finding the right service can be difficult. There can be waiting lists, out-of-pocket costs and limited access to some mental health professionals locally.

“A Mental Health and Wellbeing Local would give people another place to turn, in their own community, where they can access support earlier and be connected with the care they need.”

Gateway Health’s needs assessment found 12.2 per cent of people in Albury-Wodonga had a diagnosed mental health condition, compared with a national figure of 8.8 per cent cited in the assessment. It also identified shortages of psychiatrists and clinical psychologists locally.

The assessment also identified suicide rates in both Albury and Wodonga above their respective state and national averages and significant mental health-related emergency department demand in Albury.

Dr Dean said strengthening community-based mental health services was also important for the broader health system.

“Good mental health care should not begin when somebody reaches an emergency department. We need services in the community that people can access earlier, when there is a much greater opportunity to support them before things deteriorate,” he said.

“We also need to recognise that Albury-Wodonga functions as one community. People cross the Murray River every day for work, education, family and healthcare. Mental health services need to work in the same way.

“A Mental Health and Wellbeing Local would provide a clear and accessible front door for people across Albury-Wodonga who need mental health care and support.”

Gateway Health General Manager Mental Health and Wellbeing Alana Pund said the experience of people seeking support demonstrated the importance of having accessible services within the community.

“People do not necessarily know what level of mental health care they need when they first reach out for help. They just know that they are struggling and need somewhere to turn,” she said.

“A Mental Health and Wellbeing Local would give people a clear place to go, where they can talk to someone, have their needs understood and be connected with the right support.

“It would also give us greater capacity to work with people earlier, rather than having people wait until their mental health has deteriorated or they reach crisis.”

Gateway Health says the service should build on the existing Head to Health service and provide a sustainable, community-based model capable of responding to the needs of the growing Albury-Wodonga population.

ENDS

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