A recent comprehensive report has exposed a severe shortage of mental health resources in regional South Australia, highlighting that the state possesses fewer psychiatrists per capita compared to nations like Mongolia, Ukraine, and Russia. This stark contrast emerges when juxtaposed with the well-resourced Adelaide metropolitan area, which boasts the highest psychiatrist-to-population ratio in Australia.
The catalyst for this critical examination was the tragic loss of 27-year-old Theo Papageorgiou, who tragically took his own life in January 2016. In the harrowing two weeks preceding his death, Theo sought help at the Riverland General Hospital in Berri on two separate occasions, grappling with depression and deteriorating mental health. Regrettably, both times he was discharged without receiving the necessary care.
A subsequent coronial inquest concluded that Theo’s suicide was preventable and underscored major deficiencies in the mental health system.
The findings of a comprehensive 97-page report on rural mental health, initiated in response to Theo’s case and commissioned by the state government, have now come to light. The report unequivocally states, “The current situation did not emerge overnight; it is the result of the failure of successive governments to appreciate rural mental health challenges and take responsibility to drive mental health service enhancements.”
A glaring revelation from the report is the alarmingly low number of mental health professionals in rural South Australia. Specifically, the report highlights that there are only 19.3 full-time positions in the rural psychiatry workforce across the state, with the majority concentrated in Adelaide. Shockingly, a mere three psychiatrists reside in rural communities, further exacerbating the disparity in mental health care access between rural and metropolitan areas.
This report serves as a stark reminder of the pressing need for increased investment and reforms in South Australia’s mental health sector, particularly in the underserved rural regions. The findings underscore the urgency of addressing these deficiencies and implementing comprehensive measures to ensure that individuals across the state, regardless of their location, have access to essential mental health services.
