Mental Health Awareness

October is mental health awareness month. One of my priorities is to have a new purpose-built mental health facility in Geelong. 

Currently one in five Australians are affected by mental illness and statistics show that number increases to one in four when looking at young people aged between 15 and 24. There are serious concerns that the figure will increase in the coming years.

The existing Swanston Centre is past its use-by date; we need to address the growing demand for mental health services in the region.

As well as having out-dated facilities, staff have reported being scared and feeling unsafe due to numerous acts of violent, aggressive and threatening behaviour. Geelong needs a state-of-the-art facility that embodies the latest innovative thinking and delivers multi-faceted programs that address an issue that touches virtually everyone in our community.

Geelong is crying our for a modern, holistic centre that provides the very best treatment for people suffering from mental health disorders and protects those who are caring for them.

A new facility should have at least double the number of beds for inpatients and day patients as well as provide consulting rooms, training facilities for medical professionals and security for patients and staff.

I have several friends who were admitted to the Swanston Centre and saw their battle to regain their lives. I will fight tooth and nail before, during and after the election to get this project off the ground.
#thinkdifferent #thinkindependent