Brooke Bottrell, a resident of Coffs Harbour, has voiced her deep concerns over the lack of accessible mental health services for her children. Bottrell’s family has struggled to get him care in recent years. This is a strong issue across the Cowper electorate. Recent comments from healthcare professionals and political candidates underscore the urgent need for improved mental health resources in the region.
Bottrell’s 11-year-old son had the terrible experience of a two-year wait to see a child psychologist. Unfortunately, when he finally had an opportunity, he found out that the specialist had relocated to Port Macquarie. As she recounts, her 10-year-old stepdaughter, who went looking for help through headspace, was considered too complicated for the service. As Bottrell explains, “The cost is huge. You can’t access the services through the public system because we just don’t have them.”
Gaps in Mental Health Care
Emily Fraser, the clinical lead at headspace Coffs Harbour, highlighted significant gaps in mental health care for young people in regional areas. According to Fraser, “One of the gaps we’re seeing a lot is for ADHD and autism assessments, which require a specialist report from a psychiatrist or paediatrician.”
The challenges extend beyond simple wait times. Bottrell said her family has encountered obstacles that drive them away from getting care within their community. “I know close friends that have had to go to Queensland to get their child assessed for autism and ADHD,” said sitting Nationals MP Pat Conaghan. This represents a larger macro trend discussed in Covering Health this week, where families are unable to find specialists in their area.
Dr. Basia Radlinska emphasized the pressing need for immediate action: “If you want to know what it’s like to wait for mental healthcare, try to get a kid under the age of 10 in for an assessment.” The South Coffs Harbour mental health statistics were alarming. The area has an increasing need for services, and the funding is just not there.
Political Promises and Community Responses
Now, with less than two months until the election, mental health care is the number 1 concern for constituents in Cowper. Beyond these measures, they are making housing affordability and homelessness top priorities. Labor candidate Greg Vigors too has put together a bold plan voters love. He envisions opening new nationwide Medicare mental health centres to address these challenges directly. He stated, “Labor will commit a billion dollars to mental healthcare.”
It’s very encouraging to see the impact that the newly opened headspace centre in Coffs Harbour has had,” said Dr Radlinska. No wonder, then, that it has been killing it since its launch six months ago. “We’ve had one in Coffs Harbour for the last six months and it’s already going really well,” she remarked. This center by itself is not enough to serve all of the area’s local youth.
Pat Conaghan on behalf of the Coalition, who has previously recognized the urgent need to improve access to mental health services. Specifically, he is proposing a $100 million investment into regional healthcare if he is reelected. Conaghan believes this funding has the potential to tackle some of the systemic barriers that are preventing people from accessing the services they desperately need.
A Community on Edge
The community’s mental health landscape should color that picture in brown and orange. The statistics about mental health are getting worse every day, said Caz Heise, a community educator and local advocate for mental health wellness. Heise stated, “We’ve got a community where the statistics around mental health are getting worse not better.” The consensus among community members and healthcare providers is clear: urgent action is necessary.
Bottrell’s kids have experienced firsthand the deep consequences of a lack of mental health resources. Her stepdaughter has dealt with body-shaming and even fought suicidal ideation. Bottrell urges political leaders to ensure that their promises translate into real change for families like hers: “The area needs a lot of mental health services implemented and a lot of funding brought in to be able to support us.”
She noted that she is prepared to back candidates who put a premium on fixing these problems. “If I can see anyone that’s going to bring that to the party, then they would definitely get my vote,” Bottrell remarked.
