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  • 2 weeks ago
A West Australian family says they were forced to move interstate after struggling to find local mental health care for their daughter. It comes as the state government announced a new regional youth acute mental health care team and six new regional mental health beds to help ease pressure on the system.

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00:02When 16-year-old Indy's mental health began to spiral, her mum, Simone, knew something
00:08had to change.
00:10It was probably the worst time of our life.
00:14Unable to find support for Indy's autism and depression in regional WA, she spent three
00:20days in a Perth emergency department.
00:23She was crying, she was screaming, they called code black on her both nights.
00:31We had security, and then they had to sedate her.
00:36She's now moved to Victoria to get help, tearing her family apart in the process.
00:42My oldest daughter didn't come with us, so now we're apart from her.
00:49The Premier says Indy's situation reflects a system struggling under increased demand,
00:56not a lack of investment.
00:58Sometimes people do wait a long time in emergency departments when they're busy, but by and large
01:03they get the care they need in the environment they need.
01:06Indy's story is not unique.
01:09Earlier this year, the health minister apologised after a 17-year-old suicidal teenager spent
01:15days waiting for a mental health bed in WA.
01:18This week, the government added six new adult mental health beds at Bunbury Hospital.
01:24There will always be more that we need to do in this space, but I'm really proud of the
01:28progress we've been making.
01:29But it's little comfort for those waiting for a bed, with demand dramatically outstripping
01:34supply for both young and old.
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