Launch: Improving access to primary health services for people with a serious mental illness
Date published: 2009-07-31 10:04:56
On 23 July 2009 the Minister for Health, the Honourable Daniel Andrews and the Minister for Mental Health, Community Services and Senior Victorians, the Honourable Lisa Neville, launched a groundbreaking new project that will improve access to primary health services for people with a serious mental illness.
The government has committed $400,000 over two years for the project to run at Inner South Community Health Service and Eastern Access Community Health.
The physical health of people with a mental illness is significantly poorer than the general population with their overall death rate being 2.5 times higher. This is because it is often difficult for people with a serious mental illness to access health care. This makes them more at risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer.
The project, launched at the Inner South Community Health Service, will help break down barriers to accessing health care services and minimise the impact of physical health conditions for people with serious mental health issues.
For more information, please contact:
Ruth Azzopardi
Tel: (61 3) 9096 7424
Web: http://www.health.vic.gov.au/communityhealth/index.htm
Email: ruth.azzopardi@dhs.vic.gov.au
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