Labor pledges $5m for mental health emergency centre at Rockingham General Hospital

Federal Labor has pledged $5 million towards a new mental health emergency centre at Rockingham General Hospital if it wins the May 18 Federal election.

Member for Brand Madeleine King said the commitment to Rockingham General Hospital formed part of Labor’s overall plan to combat the scourge of ice addiction by investing in rehabilitation facilities in WA.

Mental health emergency centres provide specialist services to people experiencing mental health crises often related to drug use and help people who do not require admission to an inpatient unit but need close observation and intervention for up to 48 hours.

“I have heard harrowing stories of local families grappling with addiction, with children on ice who turn violent, who have been turned away from Rockingham Hospital because there’s not enough beds,” Ms King said.

“This centre will offer specialist care, to help alleviate the pressure on families to deal with psychotic episodes.

“We’ve seen in the last few months instances of families ripped apart by ice-fuelled violence, I hope this centre will help keep our families safe.”