 September 16, 2018
One in four Meth Helpline calls going unanswered The McGowan Government’s decision to cut funding to operate and promote the Meth Helpline will leave hundreds of West Australian families without a lifeline to support services in a time of crisis, according to Shadow Minister for Mental Health Sean L’Estrange. Mr L’Estrange said it was unbelievable that the McGowan Government would reduce funding for the Meth Helpline when demand for its services was increasing and one in four calls were already going unanswered. Data uncovered by the Liberal Opposition this week showed that between 2015-16 and 2017-18 calls to the Meth Helpline increased by 35.8 per cent but that by 2016-17, 24 per cent of callers were unable to get through. “The Minister for Mental Health should be demanding an increase in support for the Meth Helpline, not sitting back and allowing his Government to cut its funding by $154,000,” Mr L’Estrange said. “This cut will reduce the weekly number of operator shifts on the helpline by 10, which will undoubtedly mean even more calls to the helpline going unanswered. “It is hard to understand why the Government is penny pinching on such an important, frontline, service. “The Meth Helpline is an invaluable first point of contact for many people who do not know where else to find help and I am deeply concerned about the impact reduced access to the helpline will have on meth users, particularly early users, their families, their friends and the community. “The helpline also provides regular phone counselling for people in remote areas who would not otherwise have access to services. “Parents desperate to help their son or daughter battling meth addiction do not want to hear from the McGowan Government that there is a meth prison their child can go to once they are convicted of a crime, they want to know who they can call for help to stop their child reaching that point.” In March this year, the Meth Helpline was a finalist for the Treatment category of the 2018 Alcohol and Other Drugs Excellence Awards and has received overwhelmingly positive consumer feedback since its launch. “I call on the McGowan Government to not just reverse the funding cuts to the Meth Helpline but to increase its funding to match demand so that it can continue to deliver its vital service to people in need,” Mr L’Estrange said. Media Contact |
