Media Releases

22 February 2024

It's a sad truth, that we are in the midst of a mental health and suicide crisis on the northern beaches, particularly amongst our young people.

Whilst I welcome the NSW government announcement of the Brookvale Community Health Centre - a mental health first responder program, and a liaison service for young people with serious mental health, drug and alcohol issues across the Northern Sydney Local Health District, I am disappointed that the northern beaches community won’t have the four adolescent mental health beds originally promised.

Under the current circumstances, which saw public funds allocated without an outcome for the last 18 months, an audit of the Northern Beaches Hospital will be an important first step in determining how the hospital can better support the northern beaches community.

Young people and their families in the northern beaches who are dealing with mental health concerns deserve the appropriate support at the time they need it. I have been speaking with the NSW Minister Rose Jackson and NSW Health about the importance of this issue and the need to ensure all committed funding remains allocated to mental health services on the northern beaches as this would make an important difference in the treatment support of mental health in our area.

This is a start, but so much more needs to be done. To help determine how the remaining $4.5 million in funding can be allocated, I look forward to participating in an upcoming roundtable with NSW Health, Sophie Scamps MP and Michael Regan MP so that we can engage with key stakeholders in the community about how this investment can best support our mental health needs.