The Department of Health says the first regionally-based Mental Health Co-Response Team is scheduled to begin operations in Geraldton next week (6 September).
The Program is a joint partnership between the Department, WA Police and the Mental Health Commission as part of a cross-Government response to mental health challenges in the community.
The Department said the Mental Health Co-Response Team would involve police officers and mental health clinicians co-responding to calls seeking assistance, where mental illness was identified as a likely factor.
It said the Team aimed to divert people experiencing mental health distress away from the criminal justice system and connect them with the support services they required.
The Department said mobile response teams currently covered Perth’s southern, eastern, northern and south-eastern suburbs.
It said the Geraldton team would also be supported by Aboriginal mental health workers.
Minister for Health, Roger Cook said Mental Health Co-Response was an important step forward for Mid-West communities, providing a new approach to de-escalate situations where people were facing a mental health crisis.
“With one in five Australians affected by a mental health illness each year, access to informed, culturally-responsive and appropriate services that help people recover and manage their mental illness is essential,” Mr Cook said.
“Having an Aboriginal mental health worker as an integral part of each team is vital to ensuring our Aboriginal communities have access to culturally-informed and secure support.”
Mr Cook said wherever possible there should be a focus on people with mental illness getting the help they needed in a community-based setting, avoiding unnecessary presentations to hospital emergency departments and diverting away from the criminal justice system.
