AFTER a recent visit to flood-affected Rochester, National Party Northern Victoria upper house MP Gaelle Broad has called for more mental health support for residents.<\/p>\n
She urged the State Government and Minister for Mental Health, Gabrielle Williams, to provide the services.<\/p>\n
With impacts from last October\u2019s flood still being felt by the town, Ms Broad said more support was needed.<\/p>\n
\u201cSix months on the situation is still dire,\u201d she said. \u201cPeople are living in houses covered with mould because they simply have nowhere else to go.\u201d<\/p>\n
With mental health of some in the community suffering, Ms Broad said that was leaving residents at risk due to the lack of help available.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople are still under pressure and grieving,\u201d she said. \u201cYoung people are struggling, and the risk of domestic violence and suicide is very real.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is a critical shortage of mental health workers and Anglicare and Echuca Regional Health can\u2019t fill the vacancies.<\/p>\n
\u201cI spoke with local residents who are being told to wait six to eight months for an appointment.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is not good enough. These are people who have lost everything, the road to recovery and rebuilding is long. They need more mental health services, and they need them now.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rochester Community House co-ordinator Amanda Logie had previously said the town was \u201cstill broken\u201d and \u201cnot feeling very supported\u201d by the Government.<\/p>\n
A spokesperson for the Victorian Government however said support mechanisms had been put in place for the town.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know the recent floods have put an incredible amount of pressure on the Rochester community,\u201d the spokesperson said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe immediately provided $1.5 million in surge funding to our mental health and wellbeing hubs, including the Bendigo hub which services the community of Rochester.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn addition to these immediate investments, the Government is investing $1.25 million for targeted initiatives to support the mental health and wellbeing of flood-affected communities.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
AFTER a recent visit to flood-affected Rochester, National Party Northern Victoria upper house MP Gaelle Broad has called for more mental health support for residents. She urged the State Government and Minister for Mental Health, Gabrielle Williams, to provide the services. With impacts from last October\u2019s flood still being felt by the town, Ms Broad […]<\/p>\n