New mental health clinics to help struggling Victorians as more people are doing it tough
More than a dozen new mental health clinics will open on Monday to help struggling Victorians, with new data showing an alarming increase in self-harm and support requests.
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More than a dozen new mental health clinics will open on Monday to help Victorians struggling with the coronavirus lockdown, with new data showing an increase in self-harm and support requests compared to last year.
It comes after the state on Saturday recorded 37 new cases and six deaths linked to the disease.
Hospital data shows that over the past six weeks has been a 26.7 per cent increase in young people attending emergency departments for self-harm when compared the same period in 2019.
There was also a 10.5 per cent lift in self-harm presentations across all age groups and a 5.9 per cent increase in presentations for urgent and emergency mental health services.
But in a promising sign, these figures are down from those recorded to August as more Victorians have sought help.
Mental health services provided by phone have increased by 30.6 per cent over the same period while there have been more than 3000 extra video and teleconference sessions every week.
They will now be boosted by 15 clinics, first promised in August, that will offer free help for the next 12 months.
Nine of the HeadtoHelp clinics are in Greater Melbourne with sites at Berwick, Frankston, Hawthorn, West Heidelberg and Broadmeadows. There will also be six clinics in regional centres including Warragul, Bendigo, Wodonga and Norlane.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt said the clinics were a joint collaboration between the federal and state governments in recognition that the ongoing restrictions were impacting the wellbeing and mental health of Victorians.
asdf“The clinics are staffed by multidisciplinary teams of mental health professionals which may include GPs, mental health nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers or other allied health workers,” Mr Hunt said.
“We continue to demonstrate our firm commitment to the mental health and wellbeing of all Australians.”
Premier Daniel Andrews said extra funding for support services was working to help those in need.
“Every single person who is in crisis, every single person who need support and care are very important to us and will continue to receive the very best care we can possibly deliver,” he said.
The new infections recorded on Saturday are the state’s lowest daily increase since June 26 and all of the six deaths reported were linked to aged-care.
There are now 126 Victorians are in hospital, nine in intensive care and six on ventilators.
Healthcare workers make up 194 of the state’s 1251 active cases, while there are 625 active cases linked to aged care facilities.
Mr Andrews said it was only five weeks ago that Victoria had reported 725 cases in a single day.
“The trend is working and the strategy is working,” he said.
“People can be hopeful and confident and positive that we will be able to take these steps (to reopen).”
For more information of the HeadtoHelp clinics visit headtohelp.org.au.
For immediate advice and support call Lifeline 13 11 14
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