Mental health system ‘needs a decade’s work’

The South Australian Government admits it will take up to 10 years to improve the state’s ailing mental health system.

The South Australian Government admits it will take up to 10 years to improve the state’s ailing mental health system.The nation’s Mental Health Council has judged South Australia’s performance in the field as among the worst in Australia.The council has recommended a number of measures to improve the system, including closing Glenside Hospital.Health Minister Lea Stevens says the Government has no timeframe in which to close Glenside.But she says the Government is well aware of the challenge ahead.”South Australia, all through the 90s, went from a leading state to the last state so we’ve got a lot of work to do,” she said.”It’s a top priority for us but it’s not going to be done all at once.”(Source: Mental Health Council:ABC News: July 2004)