Centre in spotlight
Community leaders pushing for a 24-hour mental-health crisis centre in the Wimmera believe the coronavirus pandemic has reaffirmed a vital need for additional support.
In April last year, advocacy group Healthy Minds Horsham and regional Rotary clubs joined forces to tackle a ‘serious healthservice gap’ in the region.
More than 12 months on, the partnership is still calling for a crisis centre to provide dedicated support and intervention services for people with depression and other mental-health issues.
Healthy Minds Horsham committee member Gavin Morrow said partnership leaders had been working with Wimmera Health Care Group to develop a plan before the pandemic hit.
“Everything has been put on hold because of coronavirus and hopefully when things settle down we will be able to push on,” he said.
“We obviously want to move ahead but we can only do what we are able to at the moment.”
While sharing an account of his mentalhealth battles with The Weekly Advertiser last month, Dimboola’s Brodie Cramer called for a renewed push for funding.
Mr Cramer, who wants to use his experience with bipolar disorder to help others, said there was a need to address a lack of services in the region – particularly acute services.
“We really need something in the Wimmera,” he said.
“At the moment, the closest place is Ballarat, but they are full a lot, so they will only take you if it is very serious.
“There are a lot of people who are in between that bracket of being acute and seriously unwell and we need something here.”
Mr Morrow confirmed the partnership would continue to push for a dedicated and targeted centre to help people with mental illnesses and the ‘ever-constant threat’ of suicide.
“Winter is a tough time for a lot of people, even without a pandemic,” he said.
“A lot of people are struggling with isolation or financial concerns – it’s certainly not an ideal situation.
“There is help available, but at the moment, it can be hard to get to.”
Outreach service
Mr Morrow sang the praises of the Rural Outreach program, a free service that aims to help people in psychological distress while reducing barriers such as waiting lists and travelling long distances.
“It’s a terrific program run throughout the Wimmera,” he said.
“If someone is in a really bad situation, the outreach worker will go to their house and sit down and talk to them.
“If I get a call from someone who is in a bad way, I will call an outreach worker.
“If it’s serious enough, they will jump in their car straight away and go see them.
“Even if it’s not as serious, if someone is struggling, they can still arrange a time to catch up.
“Once these people who are struggling have spoken to someone about what they are going through, the burden is lifted off their shoulders.”
The Rural Outreach program covers Horsham, Hindmarsh, Yarriambiack and West Wimmera municipalities.
Rural Outreach worker Murray Mcinnes said he had experienced an increase in calls as the pandemic progressed.
“We were pretty quiet at the start of COVID, but people are starting to get out and about now and the reality of what we are facing is starting to hit,” he said.
“If someone needs help and doesn’t know where to start, they can give us a call and we can help direct them,” Mr Mcinnes said.
“We can give people options, we can listen to their issues and we can point them in the right direction. “There is absolutely no pressure.” Mr Mcinnes said although the current situation was not entirely negative, it had compounded things for people already in a difficult situation.
He said although he would welcome a mentalhealth crisis centre in the Wimmera, he would like to see a focus on additional practitioners and clinicians to do the ‘hands-on work’.
“I think we need a lot more mental-health services in the Wimmera – there is no doubt about it,” he said.
Mr Mcinnes said he considered his role extremely rewarding. “A lot of people are very appreciative of what we do,” he said.
“I think the fact that we can travel to people, so they are in an environment they are comfortable in, helps.
“When people are more relaxed they are more likely to talk about the things that are worrying them.”
Mr Mcinnes said now was an opportune time to remind Wimmera residents help was ‘only a phone call away’.
He said people could call him on 0436 815 615, Mal Coutts on 0418 981 210 or 1300 688 732 for assistance.
• If you or someone you know needs help, call Lifeline on 13 11 14, Mensline on 1300 789 978, beyondblue on 1300 224 636 or Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 651 251. In an emergency, call triple zero.