Greater need for south-west mental health services during pandemic, mild conditions rise

South West Healthcare has recorded a 12 per cent rise in adult mental health referrals for 2021-22 compared with 2018-19.

Richard Campion, the mental health services executive director, said the negative impacts of COVID-19 were affecting many in the community.

"This has occurred against a backdrop of reduced access to services and increased difficulties in accessing face-to-face support and care," Mr Campion said.

He said it remained a difficult time for individuals and South West Healthcare was working to promote and develop strategies to assist the community.

Victorian Coroners Court data shows no overall increase in suicides in regional Victoria, or Melbourne, since 2020 when the pandemic began.

Australian Psychological Society south-west chair Susan Hook said there had been a rise in people seeking help for mild mental health conditions but no increase in suicidality among her clients.

Ms Hook said supports like JobKeeper and JobSeeker could be one reason suicide numbers hadn't risen, but the Warrnambool psychologist said she was facing more demand for services than before the pandemic and had now closed her books.

She praised the federal government's decision to increase the number of mental health sessions someone could access from 10 to 20, but pointed out there was still the same amount of mental health practitioners to deliver those services.

"We seem to be working harder and harder," Ms Hook said.

She said the pandemic was not the cause of clients' mental health conditions but acknowledged it was an "underlying constant" for all of them.

"A low level of anxiety during COVID is part of it," Ms Hook said. "People being isolated from friends, and people just being weary; and what goes with that is a depressed mood."

Western Victoria Primary Health Network chief executive Rowena Clift said in recent months there have been more people seeking out mild to moderate services but demand for low-intensity services had remained steady.

"This is reflective of the ongoing nature of the changes with the COVID pandemic," Ms Clift said.

GenU has received $485,000 through the WVPHN to offer free sessions across Western Victoria, including to Warrnambool, Port Fairy, Hamilton and surrounds through a Portland-based case worker.

GenU's Emma Knights said the case workers, who were not psychologists but trained in mental health services, were available throughout western Victoria to help people who might be unable to secure appointments at other services due to long wait times.

She said all clients so far had said the pandemic was the main reason that prompted them to seek help.

Ms Knights listed families managing remote learning, difficulty making plans, and confusion about vaccinations as the main contributors to mild mental health conditions.

The case workers use strategies to improve people's motivation, set goals and ask them to journal to help address the concerns.

For psychologist Ms Hook, considering the bigger picture of the community's response to the pandemic holds some of the key to overcoming the stresses it can create. "People feel very grateful for living in the south-west and for living in Australia," she said.

"Perhaps also as a result of COVID, mental health issues are much more talked about and accepted and the stigma is reducing."

South West Healthcare advises:

If the situation is urgent and you're concerned someone is in immediate danger, do not leave the person alone, unless you are concerned for your own safety.

Call the person's doctor, a mental health crisis service or dial 000 and say that the person's life is at risk. If the person agrees, you could go together to the local hospital emergency department for assessment.

If you are thinking about ending your life, tell someone. Let them know you are thinking about hurting yourself, and that you are worried. Ask for help.

If you are in immediate danger call:

If you just need to talk:

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