ABYSMAL youth mental health statistics in Swan Hill have again failed to
convince decision makers that the town has an immediate need for a headspace
facility.
Larger regional centres of Mildura and Albury-Wodonga were named
among 15 recipients of headspace services nation-wide on Friday, while Swan
Hill, with seven times the state average in rates of youth self harm, missed
out.
With 85 of 90 headspace centres announced around the country, Swan
Hill’s success of securing a centre in the final announcement is fading, with
larger communities in Horsham and Wangaratta also lobbying.
Despite Swan Hill
having a lower population than other towns competing for a headspace, and this
being a key factor, Senator Bridget McKenzie said the lobbying up to this point
had not been a waste of time.
“My understanding is that [population] is the
formula, that is used, which obviously advantages some regional areas over
others. We have highlighted the inequity, particularly for Swan Hill, to the
Minister.”
Senator McKenzie was a fierce critic of previous decisions to
overlook Swan Hill, saying the Federal Government’s “human intelligence” had
failed the community.
After a Facebook campaign gained more than 5600
supporters late last year, Ms McKenzie urged grassroots campaigners to continue
the fight on social media.
“I do think the use of social media is
instrumental in changing politician’s minds… in getting support and broadening
it, social media has a strong role to play.”
In the lead-up to the Federal
election, she said the Coalition had not specifically announced its mental
health policies but would have “a lot more to say” on mental health in regional
areas.
Long-time headspace advocate Michael Adamson said while there was
still some hope, an alternative had been formed as a contingency, after it
became apparent Swan Hill’s population size was unlikely to demand a
headspace.
“We’ve moved away from that, there are other good models around
that can provide for youth in community,” he said.
As a response, the Youth
Early Intervention Taskforce, involving key service providers, schools and
residents has been running for about 12 months.
“We’re working ahead with
collaborative relations around youth support with a number of the agencies in
town, with the taskforce meeting on a regular basis, looking at the best ways to
support youth and the Medicare Local is engaged in the process around research
into youth mental health,” Mr Adamson said.
While the Mildura headspace was
too far away to be helpful for Swan Hill youth, Mr Adamson said the possibility
of a ‘satellite hub’ had been discussed, but was unlikely under the current
Mildura arrangement.
“We need to have Swan Hill specific response … not being
driven from 250km away,” he said.
In the latest profile of the Rural City of
Swan Hill’s adolescents (2008/09), the hospitalisation rate for intentional
self-harm was 4.2 per 1000 adolescents in Swan Hill — seven times the Victorian
rate (0.6).
The Swan Hill council area also ranks as the one of the worst in
Victoria for Year 12 or equivalent attainment and has double the rate of teenage
pregnancy.
