Mental health is the biggest social justice issue affecting the region, according to a survey completed by the Salvation Army.
The Salvation Army this week released its Social Justice Stocktake, where more than 15,000 people across the country were surveyed on what social justice issues concerned them and their community.
For respondents in the Corangamite electorate, which includes the Bellarine Peninsula, the clear leading issue was mental health.
More than half (59.2 per cent) of Corangamite electorate residents nominated mental health as a concern, higher than the national average of 53.9 per cent and the Victorian average of 56.7 per cent.
Housing affordability (48.5 per cent) was the second biggest concern for the electorate, followed by family violence (39.8 per cent), alcohol and drug misuse (37.9 per cent) and homelessness (34 per cent).
A Bellarine Community Health spokesperson said there were many options for those suffering from mental health issues and addiction on the Bellarine.
“Bellarine Community Health (BCH) provides a range of comprehensive health and wellbeing services for communities on the Bellarine,” the spokesperson said.
“The BCH youth services team and counsellors work with young people and their families and can assist with a range of issues including mental health, family relationships and specialised alcohol and other drug counselling.
“In addition, BCH operates a headspace service from a site in Ocean Grove and an additional BCH Youth service at Drysdale near the secondary school precinct. Self, family, external agencies, NDIS and mental health care plans are accepted.
“Short to medium term counselling is available for adults for mild to moderate mental health issues and BCH accepts self, NDIS and mental health care plan referrals.
“Retirement village provider Sirovilla has recently taken over a number of single bedroom units on the BCH Point Lonsdale site and will renovate and reopen them as affordable housing for low income earners.”
Barwon Health mental health, drugs and alcohol clinical services director Associate Professor Steve Moylan said since the pandemic health services had seen greater demand for mental health support.
“Health services across the region, including Barwon Health, have experienced growing demand for appointments and care related to mental health, drugs and alcohol in recent years,” he said.
“Health care is a human right and caring for people with mental illness is critical in maximising people’s participation in society.
“Poor mental health can lead to poorer participation in work, education, poorer relationships with family and community, and is associated with worsened physical health outcomes, including chronic disease and early mortality.
“For this reason, mental health care is an issue of social justice, and it is not surprising to see it so prominently recognised by the Salvation Army’s Social Justice Stocktake.”
The survey was completed and released ahead of the federal election to provide a guide of what issues the community deemed most important.
