Priority health needs identified

Gippsland Primary Health Network has released two priority issue papers on the mental health and wellbeing of Gippsland residents.

The two reports, “Mental Health and Wellbeing - Prevention and Promotion” and “LGBTIQA+ Health and Wellbeing” has highlighted local residents’ struggles with discrimination, mental health, family violence, financial pressure and schooling.

All local government areas were found to have high rates of family violence compared to other areas of Victoria, including East

Gippsland - which was 139 per cent higher than the Victorian average - and Latrobe, which was 134 per cent higher.

Additionally, about two in five females in Gippsland feel safe walking alone at night after dark, compared to four in five males.

It was also found that LGBTIQA+ people were more likely to face stigma and discrimination; and were at higher risk of poor mental health and suicidal behaviours.

Gippsland PHN acting chief executive officer Angela Jacob said the papers were an important part of PHN’s work in health planning.

“Health planning is one of our core functions and helps us identify and prioritise health needs.”

“The two new priority issues papers provide valuable data on mental health and wellbeing across the region.

“This assists in commissioning health services and supporting access to services for vulnerable populations. Our aim is for the commissioning process for health services in the region to be informed by best practice and through consultation with people who have lived experience.”

Other findings revealed 7.9 per cent of adults in Gippsland ran out of money to buy food in the past year, higher than the Victorian average of 5.9 per cent, and just 81.2 per cent of young people (aged 16 years) in Gippsland participated in secondary school education, compared to the Victorian average of 88.5 per cent.

Additionally, 32.8 per cent of school leavers participated in higher education in Gippsland (57.5 per cent in Victoria).

The priority issues papers can be found at: https://gphn.org.au/resources/