Increase in calls made
An increase of more than 50 per cent in Gippsland in the number of calls seeking help for mental heath problems may be startling at first glance.
But Gippsland Primary Health Network believes there is a positive way to look at the figure – that is more people are prepared to come forward when they feel they have problems and readily get the support they need.
GPHN is one of the mental health hubs established by the Federal government last September in the HeadtoHelp support program in response to the COVID pandemic.
Its main Gippsland centres are at Warragul at the Central Clinic and at Sale and there are a further four satellite centres at Leongatha,
Traralgon, Bairnsdale and Lakes Entrance.
Statistics reveal a 54 per cent increase in the number of calls to the help line 1800 595 212 during the last week of March in Gippsland and across the State in the last week of March compared to a month earlier.
Since the service opened in September Gippsland’s HeadtoHealth centres have received 1307 calls to the 1800 number; more than half of those – 680 – during the first three months this year.
There were 456 referrals services.
According to HeadtoHealth spokesperson Dr Elizabeth Deveny the figures show than many people have been and are still dealing with pandemic-related stress. to specialist
Financial stress, anxiety and loneliness are still very prevalent, she said.
The free service is designed to make best use of current multidisciplinary workforce teams and raise awareness of the services available.
The teams include psychologists, mental health nurses, social workers, alcohol and drug workers and peer support.
GPHN chief executive Amanda Proposch said early intervention was a key element to dealing with mental health issues and COVID had created a new “at risk” group that needed help to navigate a system that is often difficult.
HeadtoHealth is an important initiative to address that, she said.