Opposition Leader Mark McGowan makes his announcement in Mandurah today flanked by Murray Labor candidate Robin Clarke, Dawesville Labor candidate Adam Woodage, Dr Eleanor Britton from GP Down South, health spokesman Roger Cook and Mandurah MLA David Templeman.
Camera IconOpposition Leader Mark McGowan makes his announcement in Mandurah today flanked by Murray Labor candidate Robin Clarke, Dawesville Labor candidate Adam Woodage, Dr Eleanor Britton from GP Down South, health spokesman Roger Cook and Mandurah MLA David Templeman. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Labor pledge to complete proposed health hub for at-risk Peel youth

Jill BurgessMandurah Coastal Times

THE final $4.99 million needed for the proposed integrated health hub for at-risk youth in Peel would be supplied by a State Labor Government.

In an announcement in Mandurah today, Deputy Premier Mark McGowan said the new facility would provide all relevant services for young people including mental health, homelessness services, sexual health and counselling services.

He said a Labor government would also provide $400,000 over three years towards the Tier Three Youth Mental Health Program.

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The mental health program targets secondary school students and comprises awareness, prevention and intervention.

Mr McGowan said the Peel region had been crying out for more services for its young people and the Government had not been listening.

“The need is very real,’’ he said.

“Suicide is the leading cause of preventable death among Western Australian teenagers and more needs to be done to improve their mental health and resilience.

“This program has been evaluated, it is effective and ready to roll out.

“Under a McGowan Labor government, it would be funded as a matter of priority.”

Mandurah MLA David Templeman said too many young people in the region had been lost to suicide in the past 12 months.

“We have huge issues in the Peel region and the construction of a one-stop-shop will help provide young people with the services they need.”

Mr Templeman said he had begged the State Government to fund the Three Tier Youth Mental Health program for almost three years.

In April last year, he met with community leaders and Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull following six suicides, three from the same high school, but his pleas for funding had fallen on deaf ears.