Lucy Wicks (Robertson, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I too rise to speak on this motion moved by the member for Macquarie because improving mental health, youth mental health in particular and preventing suicide is a key priority of this government and it is a key priority of mine. We recognise that one-in-four young Australians experience a mental health issue each year and approximately nine people die by suicide each and every day. That not only has a devastating and profound impact on the friends and families of each one of the individuals but it also has a devastating impact on our community, on our nation and, of course, on the future that would have been, that will not be because these young people are no longer with us.

My own family has been impacted by the challenges not only of mental health but of losing our loved ones to suicide, with young people in their 20s, lost too soon due to the impact of this devastating sense of hopeless despair that so many young people go through. I know people in my community who have experienced the loss of loved ones, people that they have walked with and who are not with us today, and I know the impact that this has, particularly on our young kids, who deal with so many challenges, often silently. They often wrestle with issues that are bigger than what they can comprehend and that perhaps what we can comprehend. That is why this particular motion is so important and it's why the Australian government is investing a record $2.3 billion in the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan, the largest federal government mental health investment in Australia's history. It builds on the government's significant existing investment in mental health services through the 2019-20 bushfires and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and it brings the total estimated mental health spend to $6.5 billion in 2021-22.

This government is working towards zero suicide. Christine Morgan was appointed as the first National Suicide Prevention Adviser in 2019 and handed down a final report on the issue last year. The federal government is providing $107 million over five years under the National Suicide Prevention Leadership and Support Program for a range of projects designed to help reduce suicide across Australia.

In my electorate of Robertson, the government is funding a number of important local initiatives as well to help support our community, including a Head to Health pop-up service, which is now available for people across the Central Coast who may be experience challenge with mental health due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This clinic is located at Tuggerah, and it offers free services and involves a multidisciplinary team of mental health workers, psychologists, mental health nurses, occupational therapists, social workers and peer workers. It's a really important service that does recognise that many Australians have struggled in recent months during the lockdown, unable to see family members or friends or support people that they might rely on.

The Central Coast also has three headspace centres, at Gosford, Lake Haven and the soon-to-be-opened Wyong facility. During the 2019 election, the government committed an additional $30 million over four years from 2020-21 to establish 10 new or expanded headspace centres, which included the satellite facility in Wyong. I'm pleased that the service is expected to commence from December of this year. I want to thank our local headspace staff for their tireless work in providing support to 12- to 25-year-olds across our region and for their passion and care in all they do. I know that the government will continue to support the important work they do.

In my electorate, given this is such a big issue here on the Central Coast—our suicide rates are higher than the state average—I've convened a committee to tackle these issues. It's supported by many local organisations, including the PHN, the LHD, police, Lifeline, council community services and small businesses. We've been focusing on attracting funding to implement a bespoke suicide prevention initiative for our region. All these groups that are involved in this have been providing their expertise in designing and implementing actions through an analysis of the mental health of young men and people on the Central Coast, and I really want to thank the committee for their time and their expertise. They've identified two key areas: the need for improved integration of services and upgrade to the mental health system to make it easier to navigate and access. We've developed a funding proposal, and I'm going to continuing fight to see this very important initiative become a reality. (Time expired)

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