Hobsons Bay and Maribyrnong have twice as many mental health services as nearby Wyndham, new research on the spread of Medicare-supported mental health experts across municipalities shows.
The Monash University study shows Wyndham has 45 psychiatrist services and 24 psychologist services for every 1000 people.
That is less than half of Hobsons Bay, which has 99 psychiatric services and 46 psychology services per 1000 people. Maribyrnong has 109 psychiatric services and 52 psychology services per 1000.
Researchers analysed 25 million 2007-11 Medicare-supported mental health service interactions.
Lead researcher Graham Meadows said it was of concern that regional areas such as Greater Geelong and Ballarat had greater availability of psychiatric and clinical psychologist services than Wyndham.
“We’re confident lower socio-economic areas have higher rates of mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety,” he said.
“Those disorders sometimes remit, but often they persist or become chronic.”
Professor Meadows said the solution was a reform of our “poorly organised” health care system.
“A start could be made by changing Medicare rebates. It might help somewhat, but I think long-term a deeper structural reform is needed.”
