Courier Mail

Tuesday 29/06/2010
Page: 19
Section: General News
Region: Brisbane, AU
Circulation: 211230
Type: Capital City Daily
Size: 380.30 sq.cms.

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Expert blames political apathy for our growing mental health crisis

Push for
different
mindset
James O'Loan if identified early, Professor
McGory told The Courier-Mail.
"DEAF politicians" are allow- The mental health expert said
ing poor mental health to ruin he would meet Premier Anna
lives and leaving Queensland Bligh within six weeks to detail
police to pick up the pieces, how an increase in the state's
Australian of the Year Pro- mental health budget could
fessor Patrick McGorry says. benefit Queenslanders.
Figures from Queensland Al- "The people who have been
liance, the peak body for the the deafest have been the poli-
mental health community sec- ticians," he said after a weekend
tor, show that almost half the mental health summit on the
state's 4.5 million residents will Sunshine Coast. "Only 6 per
suffer from at least one mental cent of state and federal health
illness during their lives. budgets are for mental health,
And 75 per cent of those but we need it to be 14 per cent.
problems occur before the age At the moment (nationally)
of 25, accounting for 50-60 per $5 billion is allocated from a
cent of all health problems in total budget of $100 billion. It's
young people. lopsided. We're not talking
However, the silent plague about costly transplants or surg-
crippling relationships and eries that chew up the health
damaging workplace pro- system, we're talking about pre-
ductivity is mostly preventable ventative measures that work."

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 Courier Mail
Tuesday 29/06/2010
Page: 19
Section: General News
Region: Brisbane, AU
Circulation: 211230
Type: Capital City Daily
Size: 380.30 sq.cms.

press clip

HELPING OUT: Patrick McGorry says early mental-health interventions could create a win-win situation. Picture: Megan Slade

One of the prevention In May, Queensland Police the program, said police were "From fetal disorders from
measures Professor McGorry Service started a two-month responding to more incidents when their parents were on
wants implemented is more trial in Cairns where a trained triggered by troubled youths drugs or alcohol, sniffing glue or
headspace centres, a world- officer specifically responds to and the program might be paint and parent break-ups."
renowned one-stop shop for emergencies involving mentally considered for a statewide Professor McGorry said early
young people created by Aus- ill people and refers them to rollout. "Lately we've been get- intervention could stop criminal
tralia's National Youth Mental support services. Acting Senior ting more youths coming behaviour, creating a win-win
Health Foundation. Sergeant Greg Giles, who runs through the system," he said. for police and taxpayers.

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