Sadly, the bureaucracy in this state is famous for sitting on its hands and to many WA stands for “Wait Awhile”.
But in the face of this city’s youth mental health crisis we cannot afford the luxury of time.
While the state government shuffles paper, our children are dying from suicide.
For years now, the community has been crying out for money to run GP down south’s 3-Tier Youth Mental Health Program.
Not only does the 3-Tier program work, it is ready to roll.
If the government decided to flick on the green light, a team including former Fremantle Docker Heath Black would be in schools next week as holidays finish.
Many in Mandurah have put their money where their mouths are and given generously to have the program running in some form.
But mental health minister Andrea Mitchell said there would be no public money for the 3-Tier program; it would be a “duplication of services”.
The problem is that the services which she said would be duplicated are not working; at least five young people from our community have lost their lives to suicide since December, 2015.
Whatever it is the government thinks it is doing is failing us and our children.
She should spend some time with parents desperate to help their suicidal children and she would hear a very different story to the one her department tells.
They will tell her the system is stretched to breaking point, that services that are meant to help from Perth tell them they can’t cover Mandurah, that phone calls and appointments are hand-balled from pillar to post, with no one able to say the only words a parent longs to hear: “Yes, I can help you”.
Parents are desperate. And they need help.
Ms Mitchell said her door is still open: “I will consider any proposal bought before me through the appropriate channels and evaluate it in the light of expert advice as to its effectiveness”.
We do not have time to argue, or to beg.
Minister, find the money for GP down south’s 3-Tier Youth Mental Health Program now.
Lives depend on it.
Support is available by calling Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800, Lifeline on 131 114, or beyondblue on 1300 22 46 36.
To access free face-to-face counselling call Youth Focus on (08) 6266 4333.
