Augusta Margaret River mental health report open for comment

The report includes statistics on hospitalisations, prescribed medications, criminal activity, overall demographics and other factors in the Margaret River, Augusta and Cowaramup area.

Community members and health support service providers are being invited to comment on a University of Newcastle and Lishman Foundation report which considers how to better support mental health and wellbeing in the Shire of Augusta Margaret River.

Completed by a specialist researcher from the University of Newcastle’s Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health, the report is the result of interviews with more than 100 local community members, support service workers and health practitioners.

The Lishman Foundation’s Chief Executive Officer Dianne Ritson said the intent of the report was to map existing services, identify gaps, look at opportunities for service integration, and consider new programs and initiatives.

“A significant part of this project has been trying to better understand the factors associated with mental illness and suicide in the local community,” she said.

“If we can better understand the influences we can start to look at more prevention initiatives and ways of improving mental health support services.

“We want this report to translate into real outcomes for the community.”

The report is a result of a partnership between The Lishman Health Foundation, the University of Newcastle and the Shire of Augusta Margaret River.

Anyone interested in in viewing the report can access it at www.yoursay.amrshire.wa.gov.au 

A community session will be held to discuss the project at the Black Sheep Cafe in Cowaramup at 5.30pm Thursday 14 March 2019.

Submissions regarding the report can be emailed to [email protected],gov.au and must be received by 31 March 2019.

First published in the Augusta Margaret Mail 14 March 2019