Mental health black hole - How Bass Coast and South Gippsland are missing out

THE attack on Indi independent MP Dr Helen Hains put the lack of a mental health plan back on the agenda, even momentarily, while highlighting what Monash MP Mary Aldred called a crisis in mental health services in regional areas.

But Ms Aldred and her colleagues need look no further than the Korumburra Magistrates Court last Thursday for a stark illustration of the problem, and a specific issue here in Bass Coast and South Gippsland.

Not prepared to shy away from a very complex problem which presented itself in her court on last week, Magistrate Cynthia Lynch nonetheless expressed her frustration that the local justice system did not have access to CISP.

What is CISP?

CISP is the Court Integrated Services Program which provides support and coordinates referrals for offenders to drug and alcohol treatment services, crisis and supported accommodation as well as disability and mental health services, among others.

Tanya, not her real name, is a 35-year-old woman from the South Gippsland Bass Coast area whose life has spiraled out of control on methamphetamine, so much so that it broke her marriage in 2023, cost her custody of her two young children and led to a life of petty crime to feed the habit, to breaches of intervention orders while she tried to see her kids, mental health issues and homelessness.

Wanted on a number of outstanding warrants, she was arrested in Wonthaggi last week following an incident in Graham Street, but as her lawyer submitted to the court, for a person with no criminal priors, none of the offences warranted time in jail.

But being homeless, couch-surfing locally and living in her car without a licence, there simply wasn’t anywhere for her to go on release.

The magistrate addressed the problem.

“It’s a difficult sentencing exercise because there is no CISP in this region. I still find that incredibly frustrating,” said Magistrate Lynch.

But together with the assistance of defence lawyer Shannon Rice of Joshua Cameron Law in Morwell and Korumburra Police Prosecutor, Acting Sergeant Ange Wilken-Eilers, they patiently worked through the complexities, while the alleged offender watched on by video link from the Morwell police cells.

She’s no angle.

In the past few years her offending has extended to stealing number plates for money, driving off without paying for petrol locally, use and possession of ice, driving while disqualified, and some especially aggravating breaches of intervention orders.

The courts worked it out, she was released, for a return to court in a few weeks’ time, but in the absence of CISP services locally, management of her specific problems fell back on police in Morwell and locally, emergency housing and social support in the Valley and a lawyer prepared to go above and beyond.

But Tanya’s case wasn’t the only one to come before the courts that day involving significant mental health issues, others involving “acting out” in public, harassing staff at McDonalds in Wonthaggi for over an hour, abusing police and assaulting emergency services workers.

There is little doubt that the lack of a coordinated approach to offending, mental health, drug abuse and homelessness via the CISP program is hurting Bass Coast and South Gippsland.

Speaking about the lack of mental health services in regional areas and a coordinated approach to offending, Eastern Victoria MP Melina Bath, said intervention at an early stage was the key.

“If we can get early intervention, fewer people will end up in the courts,” said Ms Bath.

“Victoria had a Royal Commission into the state’s Mental Health System in 2021 but many of the recommendations in that report have not been acted on, especially in regional Victoria,” she said.

As well as not having access to CISP, the Wonthaggi-Korumburra-Leongatha area is one of the only locations in the state not to have a ‘Mental Health and Wellbeing Local’ service offering free services for people aged 26 and over.

“They provide treatment, care and support for your mental health and wellbeing close to home,” they say on the Victorian Government Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals’ website – unless you live in Bass Coast and South Gippsland that is.

While the State Government is in the process of roiling out these services to places such as the Strathbogie and Moira shires, already with services in Bairnsdale, Benalla, Wangaratta, Pakenham, Latrobe and Echuca; there isn’t a Mental Health and Wellbeing Local in this region.

No ‘Mental Health Local’ for us

Asked for comment before the introduction of the ‘Caretaker Period’ a Victorian Government spokesperson confirmed Bass Coast and South Gippsland wasn’t even on the list.

“Rolling out Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals across Victoria is a once-in-a-generation reform, and it’s being staged to make sure services are high-quality, sustainable and supported by the right workforce.

“People across Bass Coast and South Gippsland can access free mental health and wellbeing support through the Mental Health and Wellbeing Hub”

But it’s a case of “let them eat cake”!

The closest Mental Health and Wellbeing Local to Wonthaggi is in Morwell.

'Health Local' needed, says Crugnale MP

Outgoing Bass MP Jordan Crugnale acknowledges the need for a 'Mental Health Local' in Wonthaggi.

“Securing a permanent, standalone Mental Health Local remains an important investment for Wonthaggi and surrounds. it is an outcome I hope the incoming Member of Parliament will continue to champion,” Ms Crugnale said this week.

“In the meantime, Labor's record healthcare investments ensure local residents have immediate, free pathways to care right now. On the ground, Wonthaggi Hospital provides immediate triage and stabilisation, seamlessly connecting Bass Coast residents to the broader Bayside Health network.

“This delivers streamlined, priority access to specialized acute care, including the brand-new mental health inpatient beds at the $1.1 billion Frankston Hospital redevelopment. Furthermore, Labor has placed dedicated mental health professionals in our local schools to provide vital early intervention for the next generation.

“For everyday support, there is a network of local free dedicated organisations,” she said, providing the following contact points locally:

• Wellways (Watt Street): Walk-in peer support for families and carers at the Mental Health and Wellbeing Connect hub.
• Wellways (Graham Street): Free community psychosocial support and home-visit outreach programs.
• Latrobe Regional Health (Murray Street): Specialized public psychiatric care and mobile clinical crisis teams.
• Headspace Wonthaggi (Murray Street): Comprehensive, free youth mental health care and regional mobile clinics.
• There are a number of Statewide telephone and online supports including: SuicideLine Victoria (1300 651 251), Lifeline (13 11 14), Beyond Blue (1300 22 4636), Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800), eheadspace (1800 650 890), 13YARN (13 92 76), Rainbow Door (1800 729 367), MensLine (1300 78 99 78), and DirectLine (1800 888 236).
• Or contact your local doctor.

“There is and will always be more work to do to further support community members living amongst us experiencing mental ill-health and their families,” said Ms Crugnale.