New site for youth facility
A SECOND site for Cairns’ new youth mental health facility has been chosen, but authorities are yet to reveal the location.
The State Government announced the $6 million Youth Prevention and Recovery Care Centre in 2014 with a proposed site in Law St, Cairns North.
But a Queensland Health spokesman yesterday revealed that an alternate area had been selected due to the identification of “risks” associated with the original location.
“An announcement regarding the facility will be made following consultation with neighbours,” he said.
“I want this facility to be operational as soon as possible.”
The centre will cater for youths aged between 16-21 suffering mental-health issues.
A location for the new $70 million Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service mental health facility, announced in last year’s State Budget, is also yet to be announced as it remains in the planning stages.
The spokesman said $3 million had been allocated to planning and one option remained for it to be built beside Cairns Hospital. The current centre is on the Esplanade.
“The Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service has allocated $7 million to upgrade current inpatient facilities to boost patient care in the interim while the new facility is under development,” he said.
The Cairns Post revealed yesterday suicide rates in the Far North climbed 20 per cent last year.
This was higher than the statewide increase which was just over 15 per cent.
Queensland Mental Health Commissioner Ivan Frkovic said that he was “concerned” by the rate and a “whole-ofcommunity” approach was needed to address the increase.
“All the data available to us strongly indicates that suicide prevention is not just an issue for mental health services,” he said.
“This community approach needs to be backed by the full package of evidence-based approaches — that includes promoting good mental health and social connections from childhood onward, investing in early intervention programs as well as crisis intervention, promoting responsible media reporting and providing followup care for people who have attempted or been bereaved by suicide.”
He highlighted a $9.6 million pledge to the Suicide Prevention in Health Services Taskforce, which included funding for the Partners in Prevention project as key initiatives.
Both these are based on improving training and response by frontline services to assist people at risk of suicide.
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