Busselton mental health shortage

The non-government support service Ruah Mental Health delivered training at Lamp Inc last week to support and help Busselton workers appreciate the effects of mental illness on a family.

The workshop was a sell out with people taking away ideas and resources to share with families, children and young people.

Ruah Mental Health manager Carol Clark delivered the training and said some of the workers were concerned about the shortage of services available to support families in these circumstances. Workers were also distressed at the reduction in commonwealth funding available to Busselton from December this year.

Federal government funding is due to expire for Lamp Inc in December.

Ms Clark said it was important to ensure family members have an opportunity to talk about how the mental illness was impacting them.

“We need to focus on the needs of people as parents and ways to support resilience in children,” Ms Clark said.

Last week a Mental Health Bill was passed in state parliament giving families and carers of people living with mental illness the right to be kept informed and involved in the treatment and care of the person they were supporting.

Ms Clark welcomed the new act and said the Impact of mental illness on the family training session held last week would assist services considering how to implement aspects of the new legislation.

Mental Health Minister Helen Morton said the bill was drafted after years of extensive consultation with carers, consumers and clinicians

“The Bill represents real change, practical and transparent safeguards and, most importantly, the greater genuine involvement for families and carers in the treatment of their loved ones,” she said.

To enable a smooth transition, there will be an implementation period of about 12 months before the new legislation commences. 

Overseeing its implementation is a reference group chaired by former Labor Treasurer and Opposition leader Eric Ripper.