People in the New England with a mental illness in an emergency situation will receive increased access to mental health services under a ground-breaking trial program launched in Armidale last week by the NSW Minister for Mental Health, Kevin Humphries, and Member for Northern Tablelands, Richard Torbay.
Mr Humphries said that, through the Rural Mental Health Emergency Transport Project, the region’s Ambul-ance, Police and Health services will work together for the first time to provide faster and safer treatment to people with mental illness in an emergency situation.
Armidale Hospital will also be upgraded to a ‘declared mental health facility’ and receive additional staff and resources.
“Emergency situations involving people who may have a mental illness can be a complicated and time consuming process as it often involves a response by multiple agencies, such as health, police and ambulance services,” Mr Humphries said.
“In New England it has also involved the police transporting people to the nearest declared mental health facility in Tamworth, which has often been difficult for both the police and for the patient who may need immediate treatment.
“Through this important initiative, the region’s police, ambulance and health services will work together to respond more quickly and effectively to mental health emergencies across the Northern Tablelands and New England and ensure people have access to mental health treatment as soon as possible,” Mr Torbay said.
“Importantly, we are also creating an additional regional hospital to which people detained under the Mental Health Act can be taken to receive a timely mental health assessment and immediate care.”
Minister for Police and Emergency Services, Michael Gallacher, welcomed the initiative and said it would reduce police workload and allow them to return to other duties more quickly.
