The Nationals Member for Morwell, Martin Cameron, and Deputy Leader of The Nationals and Shadow Minister for Mental Health, Emma Kealy, have called on the Andrews Government to stump up additional funding for Lifeline Gippsland in the 2023-24 Budget.
Lifeline Gippsland experienced a 45 per cent increase in calls to its 24-hour crisis line during the pandemic which haven’t eased off, with the Andrews Government failing to increase funding to reflect the huge spike in demand.
Lifeline Gippsland receives $150,000 annually from the State Government and triages 11,000 calls a year, on average, at a cost of $430,000. The financial shortfall must be recouped through fundraising.
“We are calling on the Andrews Government to match the Liberals and Nationals pre-election pledge of an additional $250,000 per year over four years for Lifeline Gippsland,” Mr Cameron said.
“Speaking with Lifeline CEO, Michelle Possingham, it’s clear the need for mental health crisis intervention is at an all-time high, yet the Andrews Government is still hell-bent on cutting mental health funding.
“It is absolutely vital the Andrews Government commits to adequately funding Lifeline Gippsland so it can continue to provide critical, life-saving mental health support services and programs.
Deputy Leader of The Nationals and Shadow Minister for Mental Health, Emma Kealy, said locals, and indeed all Victorians, need improved community-based mental health support to break the cycle of individuals presenting at hospital Emergency Departments in crisis.
“Victoria’s mental health crisis now means more than half of all people that come to hospital in acute mental crisis are languishing in an in an emergency department for more than eight hours while waiting for a bed,” Ms Kealy said.
“Crisis phone lines like Lifeline Gippsland help provide critical support to the mental health of Victorians and keep them well enough to stay out of hospital, yet Labor has turned its back on Lifeline Gippsland and ignored their urgent need for an injection of funding.
“Lifeline Gippsland has done an amazing job to provide support for Victorians in distress who can’t get a mental health appointment, often for months on end, and it’s high time funding was increased to reflect the critical role Lifeline Gippsland plays in caring for the community.”
