KERRY PECK, HOST: It's 8.51 right now, and as you know, released just this week is a fabulous facility in our city, and of course looking after mental health and those people with a drop-in- sort of virtually a drop-in centre, I suppose you could call it. It's next to Pizza Hut in Durham Street, and to find out a bit more about this, the Federal Assistant Minister of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Emma McBride. Good morning.
ASSISTANT MINISTER EMMA MCBRIDE: Good to be with you.
PECK: Thank you very much indeed for your time. These facilities are very, very important, aren't they?
MCBRIDE: They really are. And in communities like Bathurst where it has been hard to get the support that people need close to home and affordably. And these centres, as you described, they're a drop-in centre. Someone can walk in, they don't need a referral from the GP, they don't need to make an appointment, and they'll be able to get supporting care tailored to their needs when they walk in.
PECK: Very often it's just a matter of communication, really, isn't it?
MCBRIDE: It can be. And in communities, often it has been hard for people to be able to access that and when you walk into the Medicare Mental Health Centre in Bathurst, you're likely to be greeted by someone with their own personal experience, a peer worker, and that can be the best start for someone seeking support and care, because they have that connection. That person understands and they've walked in their shoes.
PECK: I know the Albanese Government's doing this right across the country. At this stage, I take it that they're fairly successful. What sort of feedback have you got from them?
MCBRIDE: We've now opened- the one in Bathurst is the 38th centre that we've opened across the country. There's also one that will be opening in Dubbo in a couple of weeks' time and one that we opened in Young back in April. And they have been very welcome in communities across the country, and including in regional centres. For people to be able to walk in for free and get the care they need has been really welcome.
PECK: Yeah, and of course, it's the old story, isn't it? Prevention's a whole lot better than trying to find a cure for it. And very often, you know, just talking to somebody does help you solve your problems.
MCBRIDE: It can make such a big difference, especially in the past it has been hard for people to have that conversation when they need it the most. And with a drop-in centre, someone can walk in and they'll be able to talk to, as I said, someone who's had a similar or the same experience. And if they do need it, care can be provided from a social worker or a psychologist to meet their wraparound needs.
And to let your listeners know, in the coming months, we'll be launching a virtual network of specialist psychologists and psychiatrists to support these national centres so that if you were to walk into the centre in Bathurst and the psychologist wasn't available or you needed a more specialist psychologist to meet your needs, that will be able to be arranged, and importantly, for free.
PECK: Yeah, I think it's a wonderful idea. And, of course, at this particular stage, I mean, we've got all sorts of things that are happening in our community. We've got, you know, domestic violence. We've got all sorts of problems, mental health wise. And this is just another sort of, I suppose, key in the lock to a certain extent.
MCBRIDE: It is. And we know that in communities right around Australia, as you pointed out, there's lots of different contributors to people's distress. And to be able to have a service where someone can come in that is safe, that's confidential, that is welcoming. And also if they do need to be, they can be linked in with other services. So it might be that they walk into the Medicare Mental Health Centre in Bathurst in distress, and the underlying cause of that distress is domestic or family violence, they'll be able to be linked in a safe way and seamlessly with those other services as well.
PECK: And very often you're talking to likeminded people as well who actually, you know, have some idea of what you're going through.
MCBRIDE: And that is what forms that connection where people feel that they have that trust and confidence, because that person has been in their situation. And also because they can see that person is now through that, and that can give people so much hope to speak to someone who's been in a similar situation and now has the support and care and are now through that. And that is really central to the model as well.
PECK: Yeah. And, of course, as you said, these are progressing of course. I take it right across- well, right across the country and also the states. So I take it that you're looking forward in the future to opening new ones as well.
MCBRIDE: I will be, and as I mentioned we'll be opening the one officially in Dubbo in the coming weeks. And in the election, I was able to secure another $225 million investment to expand the network of centres. So there'll be now 32 in New South Wales and around 90 centres across the country. And so pleased to see that there's centres already opening in communities like Bathurst and in Young that are providing that support and care close to home and free for local people.
PECK: You've done very well to get the dollars actually under the current climate, Emma, let me say. [Laughs]
MCBRIDE: Well, I think it reflects the need in communities and the demand for services. And in my role, I'm a former mental health worker myself, I'm a pharmacist by training and I worked in a regional hospital and I saw what would happen if people in distress didn't get support, would end up in crisis and needing the support of hospitals that I used to work in. So if we can provide this care in the community sooner it's better for the individual and it's better for the community.
PECK: Yeah, very much so, and of course, people, don't be shy, you know. There are other people that are suffering the same as you are, so go and talk to somebody. That is really the message, isn't it?
MCBRIDE: That is the message, and if your listeners want to call, they can call 1-800-595-212 to be linked in with a professional who will help to connect them with their nearest Medicare Mental Health Centre, and that's available at 9 until 5. And if they want to walk in, as you said, next to Pizza Hut in Bathurst, 11 until 7 weekdays and 4 until 8 Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
PECK: Good on you, Emma. Look, I thank you very much indeed for your time. You've been very generous with us. I know you're busy, but we do appreciate it and I hope to catch up in the future.
MCBRIDE: Good to be with you.
PECK: Good, thanks for that. There we go, Emma McBride, the Assistant Minister for Mental Health.