Tara Murray
Brimbank councillors are calling for the council to take an active role in addressing the current mental health crisis.
At last week’s council meeting, the council submitted its feedback on its submission on the development of the new Victorian Mental Health and Wellbeing Act.
The submission is one of the recommendations to come out of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System:
Several councillors said while the submission on the draft act and the act itself were important, the council needed to find ways to support their community even more.
Councillor Virginia Tachos said while providing mental health services doesn’t fall under the council’s direct responsibility, they have a part to play.
“Our response to this commission is important, but our jobs on this council is just as important going forward in response to this pandemic,” she said.
“We do have the ability to respond to this mental health crisis with the various services that we do deliver. Some of the key priorities our community is calling out for is more access to green spaces and activation in those green spaces.
“We have got the ability as a council to tweak and increase what our community needs right now.”
Cr Sarah Branton detailed her own mental health battles and the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic is having.
She said she was encouraged by some of the work already underway by the council and council run services.
“Personally my depression has been the worst it has been for a long time,” she said.
“This pandemic has been a big part of this. Regularly walking around the same two parks every day, we need to activate those green spaces they are so important.
“When there’s nine months waiting lists for young people to access youth services, it’s too long, nine months is an entirety when you’re 15.”
In the council’s submission, it called for the new act to fully recognise and support the role of local government in terms of prevention, partnerships, early intervention, and understanding local need.
