JOSH Gill could have been saved if better acute mental health services had been introduced to the northern beaches sooner.
They're the words from Andrew Gill whose 14-year-old son Josh died in August, 2021, following an 18-month battle with mental health, alcohol and drug issues.
In March this year, Mr Gill and his wife Diana pleaded with health authorities, through a story in the Northern Beaches Review, for enhanced acute youth mental health services.
Now, the NSW Government has announced $11.4 million for child and youth mental health services for the northern beaches.
The package includes four dedicated acute paediatric mental health beds, a youth drug and alcohol service and extra staff.
The services are long overdue, Mr Gill said.
If those services were there when Josh was going through his struggles, I think Josh would be alive today.
- Andrew Gill
"If those services were there when Josh was going through his struggles, I think Josh would be alive today," he said.
Mr Gill hopes this package will be the start of more young mental health services for the LGA.
"We can all say something more should be done, but something being done is dramatically better than nothing at all," he said.
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"Those services will help other young people with problems and it's definitely a step in the right direction."
But more resources are needed to help schools support troubled teens, and also the youth justice system needs fixing, Mr Gill said.
"There are very few consequences for young kids doing the wrong thing," he said.
"I don't think young people should be alienated because they have drug and alcohol problems, and at the moment with the lack of resourcing it would appear that that is the case."
Earlier this year, the North Curl Curl couple launched legal action against Northern Beaches Hospital alleging a lack of mental health services that could have saved Josh's life. They later withdrew the legal bid.
What's in the $11.4m mental health package
- $7.5 million for four acute paediatric specialist mental health beds at Northern Beaches Hospital
- $1.4 million for extra staff, including senior multi-disciplinary clinicians, to support Northern Beaches Child Youth Mental Health Service in the Brookvale Community Health Centre.
- $1.1 million for extra staff, including peer workers and clinicians, to support and operate the Northern Beaches Youth Response Team service out of Mona Vale Community Health Centre seven days a week.
- $1 million to develop a new youth drug and alcohol community treatment service in Northern Sydney Local Health District
- $365,000 to provide a full-time child and youth psychiatrist at Northern Beaches Hospital
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Nadine Morton
Nadine Morton covers emergency services and breaking news for the Illawarra Mercury. She takes pride in regional journalism which she believes is crucial to informing our towns and cities. Have a story? Email her at nadine.morton@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Nadine Morton covers emergency services and breaking news for the Illawarra Mercury. She takes pride in regional journalism which she believes is crucial to informing our towns and cities. Have a story? Email her at nadine.morton@austcommunitymedia.com.au
