It’s time we turn our attention to the mental health emergency

Australia, and the Northern Beaches, was experiencing a mental health emergency well before COVID-19 hit our shores. The lockdowns we have endured since, including the ‘Mackellar lockdown’ that impacted our community over the Christmas period in 2020, have been particularly tough.  

We know that lockdowns impacted young people particularly hard as schools and universities closed, while those already isolated in our community – including the elderly, unemployed, disadvantaged and those with a disability – have also suffered throughout the pandemic.

As a GP, I was often the first person someone would reach out to for help with their mental health. I know that many in our community suffer in silence. It is time to change this, and it is time for the government to address the national health emergency that is mental health.

One in five Australians are reporting a high level of psychological distress, with young people, women and those living with a disability the most affected by poor mental health.

On the Northern Beaches, waiting lists for early intervention community-based mental health services are months long – a vitally important time to receive help. Psychiatry services are also
at capacity. Community-based services that we do have are doing their best, but they are under-resourced and cannot keep up with demand.

GPs and other frontline healthcare workers require support to help them care for their patients’ mental health needs and, as a result of the pandemic, their own mental health needs have increased too.

Sadly, there is no dedicated inpatient mental health service for youth at Northern Beaches Hospital. I find this hard to believe when it is the central primary care facility servicing not only Mackellar but neighbouring electorates as well. The Northern Beaches has a population close to that of Canberra, and we do not have a dedicated mental health service in our public hospital. This has to change.

There’s clearly a lot of work that needs to be done to raise the level of mental healthcare services to where they need to be. As your Independent MP for Mackellar, I would work with all levels of government to prioritise action on mental health as a national priority.

 If elected, I will work with all levels of government and experts to:

• Develop and fund an inpatient youth mental health unit at Northern Beaches Hospital

• Enable earlier and increased access to community-based mental health services for people of       all ages here on the Northern Beaches, and around Australia

• Fund mental health nurses (or other qualified mental health workers) within primary care to          support earlier intervention for people who need it

• Implement the recommendations of the Productivity Commission’s Report into Mental Health

• Strengthen mental health support systems for healthcare workers

• Build strategies for mental health screening throughout our primary care health network

• Boost mental health services including psychiatrists.

As we move into a new phase of managing and living with COVID-19, it’s time to turn our attention to other health issues our nation faces. I believe that addressing our poor mental health should be a national priority – and it will be one of my first priorities should I become the Independent MP for Mackellar at the next election.

*Keep up to date with Dr Sophie Scamps’ campaign for the federal seat of Mackellar by visiting www.sophiescamps.com.au and following on social media  @drsophie4mackellar on Instagram and Dr Sophie 4 Mackellar on Facebook