System under pressure
Mental health demand stays high in wake of pandemic
BARWON Health says mental health presentations remain high as a psychiatrist shortage contributes to long waits in the private system.
Barwon Health Mental Health Drugs and Alcohol Services clinical director Steve Moylan said the service’s presentations remained stable and high, which was consistent with the demand during the pandemic and the known underlying burden of mental ill health in our community.
“Long waits in the private system are well recognised and this has an effect on those making referrals, particularly GPs, as well as consumers and their families, especially those with more chronic mental health concerns that can benefit from specialist care,” Professor Moylan said.
“It is difficult to judge whether this is having a direct impact on our high demand, but we expect the lack of availability means there are suitable clients who are not able to receive care in private or less acute settings.”
The Geelong Advertiser this week revealed patients were waiting months to see a psychiatrist in the private system.
Mental Health Victoria acting chief executive John Foley said long wait times for mental health services had significant impacts for people seeking help with their mental health.
“It means people are suffering preventable psychological distress and disruption to their education, work, relationships and opportunities for longer,”
Mr Foley said. “Untreated symptoms will often worsen over time. Long wait times also increase pressure on carers, families, friends, colleagues and supporters.
“Leaving symptoms untreated for too long can literally be a matter of life and death.
“Wait times create a greater burden on the mental health and wellbeing system more generally, too, as when people are eventually able to access services, they are likely experiencing more complex or severe symptoms requiring more intensive treatment, care and support.”
He said long wait times could be generally attributed to workforce supply not meeting demand.
Prof Moylan said Barwon Health continued to be excited about opportunities to grow its services, with five short-stay beds at its alcohol and other drugs hub opening soon in the emergency department, and increased funding to expand services, including community and primary care.
He said that following recent renovation the Swanston Centre inpatient mental health unit was now back to its full capacity of 32 beds.
“We look forward to expanding this capacity with the opening of the new 16-bed McKellar mental health and wellbeing unit,” he said.
Prof Moylan said that over the past four years, mental health staff numbers had increased from a little more than 300 to about 600, and would continue to grow over the next few years.