Playford, northern suburbs mental health rates among highest in the state

A young mum from Adelaide’s north faces a months-long wait to see a psychologist as alarming data is revealed.

A young mother from Adelaide’s northern suburbs says a lack of resources is contributing to the region’s shocking rates of mental illness after she was told to wait six months to see a psychologist.

Michelle Dolan, 32 of Munno Para West, has lived in the City of Playford her entire life and said it was unsurprising the area had one of the highest rates of mental health diagnoses.

Census data released last week revealed 13.1 per cent of the residents of the local government area were living with a long-term mental health condition — which is almost one-and-a-half times the national average and 33 per cent higher than the state average.

Lacey Dolan, 12, Michelle Dolan, 32, Carter Townley, 2 and Tony Townley, 35. Picture: Supplied

Ms Dolan, who lives with depression and anxiety, said a staggering lack of services had meant her illness was undiagnosed for years.

The mother of two, who has had depression for 11 years, recently tried to get professional help after her anxiety “skyrocketed”.

But she was told it would be at least a six month wait for her to see a psychologist in the local area.

“The reality is the few services we do have out here are so packed,” she said.

“It ends up being quite reactive (as a result).

“If you want some help now it ends up that people are knocking on the emergency department door or at a crisis centre.

“People could really use mental health support, but it’s just not there.”

Health and Wellbeing Minister Chris Picton told The Messenger the area had been “neglected” and “under-resourced”.

He said the state government was committed to building 48 mental health beds in the Northern Adelaide region and funding 15 psychiatrists and psychologists in child and adolescent mental health services.

“We are making a generation investment to provide more mental health services and increase capacity,” Mr Picton said.

Ms Dolan, who also suffers from rheumatoid arthritis, said her chronic pain and mental ill-health saw her kicked out of school.

Her parents also struggled to understand their daughter’s behaviour.

Ms Dolan now understands her chronic pain contributed to her mental ill-health.

She is now studying psychology in an attempt to fill the “gap” in services in the northern suburbs.

This was the first time the census collected information on diagnosed long-term health conditions.

The suburbs of Davoren Park (16.7 per cent) and Elizabeth (16.5 per cent) had the highest rates in the council area.