[Greens-Media] Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service: Lack of funding continues, say WA Greens

[Richards, Kirsten]

The State Government is failing to meet demand when it comes to the issue of funding for child and adolescent mental health services.

Mental health is fundamental to overall health and quality of life, yet our young people are disproportionately experiencing the effects of mental illness, says WA Greens spokesperson for Mental Health Alison Xamon.

"As a result, investment in child and adolescent mental health is crucial, and should be viewed as much as an investment in our future as a response to current need," Ms Xamon said.

"The economic impact of mental health problems in children and young people can be staggering - up to $30 billion per year (1).

"This is not only about reducing the individual suffering of children and young people, it is about saving significant amounts of Government money over the longer term."

In 2010 the Commissioner for Children and Young People held an inquiry into the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people in Western Australia (2).

"Unfortunately, the Commissioner's report demonstrated significant underfunding and gaps in service delivery for children and young people," Ms Xamon said.

"In the report, the Commissioner made 54 considered recommendations to improve the mental health and wellbeing of WA children and young people, including to provide extra funding for the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS).

"According to the Commissioner, in 2010 CAMHS was only funded to provide a service to 20 per cent of the children and young people who required it.

"The Commissioner found there was an urgent need to prioritise this area.

"That was of course 18 months ago now, and unfortunately mental health services for children and young people continue to be underfunded and under-resourced

"I am frequently contacted by parents of young people with mental health problems who are exhausted by the struggle to access fragmented and disjointed services.

"The burden on these families is huge.

"This is simply not good enough and I call upon the Government to act on the Commissioner's recommendations without further delay.

"For every day of inaction, children are missing out on the specialist services provided by CAMHS.

"It is clear we still have a long way to go."

Notes:
1.        Access Economics Dec 2009, The economic impact of youth mental illness and the cost effectiveness of early intervention http://oyh.org.au/sites/oyh.org.au/files/CostYMH_Dec2009.pdf The report finds the financial cost of mental illness in people aged 12-25 to be $10.6 billion in 2009. The lost wellbeing (disability and premature death) of these individuals was estimated to cost an additional $20.5 billion.
2.        Report of the Inquiry into the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people in Western Australia http://www.ccyp.wa.gov.au/files/MentalWellbeingInquiry/CCYP%20Mental%20Health%20Inquiry%20-%20Report%20to%20Parliament.pdf