POLITICIANS have vowed to continue the campaign for additional youth mental health services in the Swan Hill region during 2013.
Federal Mental Health Minister Mark Butler left some hope for proponents of a headspace facility in Swan Hill when he said, in response to an inquiry from Swan Hill Rural City Council, that the Federal Government’s 2011/12 budget allowed for the development of 20 additional headspace sites beyond those already announced.
The location of those new sites are set to be confirmed between July 2013 and June 2015, Mr Butler said.
Government-funded headspace facilities aim to provide a safe, approachable space where help can be provided to young people going through a tough time.
With the possibility of such a facility still on the table, Swan Hill Rural City Council Mayor Les McPhee yesterday reiterated his support for further headspace campaigning in 2013.
“We’ll definitely be looking for future opportunities as to how we can get a headspace [facility],” he said.
“The figures themselves indicate we have an issue in relation to youth suicide.”
Senator for Victoria Bridget McKenzie said continuing to highlight the issue of youth mental health in Swan Hill was vital to the community’s campaign.
“Making sure the representatives at the local, state and federal level have a very clear understanding of the need in the Swan Hill community will help,” she said.
“Swan Hill is taking a leadership role in advocating for themselves and I think that’s the best strategy.”
Last year, Ms McKenzie contacted Mr Butler and ask him to clarify the reasons why Swan Hill was overlooked for a headspace facility.
Based on Mr Butler’s reply and the results of a Senate Estimates question, Ms McKenzie said the government had confirmed results of national modelling and “a level of human intelligence” were used to select headspace locations, giving priority to areas with high youth populations, taking into account factors such as youth suicide and substance abuse.
For more on this story, see Wednesday’s edition of The
Guardian (15/01/12).
