Acute shortage of WA psychiatric help

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Western Australia’s mental health system does not have enough psychiatrists or beds to cope with demand for treatment, a parliamentary inquiry has heard.

Members of the Royal Australian College of Psychiatrists WA told a hearing on Wednesday that the state needed twice as many psychiatrists and 70 more acute inpatient beds to meet demand.

The committee also heard there was an urgent need for more beds for people aged 16 to 24.

WA opposition spokesman for mental health Stephen Dawson said the evidence came at a time when up to 50 per cent of children assessed as needing acute inpatient care were turned away from hospital because there were no mental health beds available.