Mental health services get a boost

Before the March election, the government promised $10 million towards the construction of a youth mental health clinical research facility at Camperdown, in Sydney's inner-west.

Premier Morris Iemma promised an extra $6 million to the Royal Price Alfred Hospital's Brain and Mind Research Institute (BMRI) at Camperdown and for additional services in both Campbelltown and Redfern\Waterloo.

"The $10 million is for the bricks and mortar, this ($6 million) is for the people," Mr Iemma told reporters in Campbelltown.

"It's critical to focus on the early phase of mental illness to maximise the chance of helping young people back to school, back into education and training or back into the work force."

Health Minister Paul Lynch said there weren't a lot of votes in mental health and admitted it was an area that had been neglected in the past.

He said the announcement was aimed at looking after areas which had been underfunded for decades.

BMRI executive director Profession Ian Hickie said NSW was leading the country in developing new ways of treating young people suffering from mental illness.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Mental-health-services-get-a-boost/2007/06/21/1182019250914.html

see also http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21935684-23289,00.html