1 December 2021
At a time when the COVID pandemic is seriously impacting mental health, up to 60 per cent of calls to the only State Government-run mental health crisis phone service are going unanswered.
Despite demand for mental health services surging in the past two years, staff shortages and substandard equipment at SA Health’s Mental Health Triage Service have meant that many people experiencing a mental health crisis are simply unable to get the help they desperately need.
“Since moving to Glenside Campus in 2020, the Government-funded Mental Health Triage Service has deteriorated to alarming levels,’’ said Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (SA Branch) CEO/Secretary Adj Associate Professor Elizabeth Dabars AM.
“It has multiple staffing vacancies and substandard technology systems, resulting in up to 60% of calls per day being abandoned. This happens regularly.
“As SA Health’s state-wide mental health crisis phone service, every call should be answered in a timely manner, and it is incredulous and extremely distressing that those consumers in urgent need of mental health support and advice do not receive it.
“It is also extremely stressful for clinicians knowing that more than half of all calls from consumers in need cannot be answered,’’ Ms Dabars said.
“Many people trying to ring through are suicidal. This service should be about saving lives, but it is failing the community due to lack of funding and resourcing.
“Not only are people enduring long holding times, but often when they finally do get through the phone line drops out.’’
The ANMF (SA Branch) is writing to the State Chief Psychiatrist Dr John Brayley, requesting an urgent action plan to address unmet consumer demand, the workforce shortages (up to five staff down daily), and related work health and safety issues.
“The South Australian community needs to be reassured that there is immediate access to a crisis mental health triage that is responsive to the demands of those requiring urgent mental health care,’’ Ms Dabars said.
“With South Australian borders now open, and COVID cases predicted to significantly increase over the coming months, the mental health crisis phone support will be in high demand. It needs to be fixed as a matter of the highest priority. Lives could be at stake.’’