Expanding the Mental Health Co-Responder Model

Tuesday 3 June
Private Members’ Statement

Ms CLANCY (Elder) (15:51): I want to take this opportunity to speak to something I am really proud of that our government did last week. We announced that we are expanding the mental health co-responder model to the southern suburbs as well. So it now will be in SALHN, CALHN and NALHN. This program is where, when there is a 000 call-out for a mental health crisis, a police officer will attend with a mental health clinician as well, and that means a much better outcome for the person in distress.

It also has meant more than 2,400 emergency department presentations have been avoided. From my conversations with people in SAPOL, it has also changed the conversation around mental health in those stations, which is really great for reducing stigma and improving mental health literacy. So I was really proud that we are going to be expanding that program in the upcoming budget.

I also want to take a moment to recognise someone very special, and that is Danica Gates. She was recently awarded Volunteer of the Year in South Australia and she does incredible work in Tumby Bay. She has chosen to turn her grief into something really powerful, and I have been proud to meet her a number of times, both in Port Lincoln and in Adelaide, and to recently visit the centre she is running with others in her Suicide Prevention Network in Tumby Bay. So congratulations to Danica and thank you.