30 September 2022
Gippsland Primary Health Network invested $16.4 million in mental health services across the region in the 2021-2022 financial year with more people than ever before accessing these services.
This was revealed in the two new priority issues papers from Gippsland PHN on mental health and wellbeing (Issues-Impacts and Services-Programs).
The Issues and Impacts paper showed that in 2019-20, there were 2,516 clients accessing Gippsland PHN funded Primary Mental Health (PMC) care services increasing to 4,659 clients in 2020-21. The significant increase was in part due to the Australian Government investment in the Head to Health service from September 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with two hubs located in Gippsland.
There were 14,975 referrals for psychology from general practices across Gippsland in 2020; 22% were for patients in East Gippsland; 21% for Latrobe; 18% Baw Baw; 17% Wellington; 14% Bass Coast; and 8% South Gippsland.
Over half (59%) of student presentations to a Doctors in Secondary Schools clinic across nine secondary schools in Gippsland were related to mental health issues.
Read the full media release here. Media release – New priority issues papers
