Federal Member for Barker Tony Pasin returned to Federal Parliament in Canberra last week armed with 2600 signatures from his constituents.

Mr Pasin presented Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt with a petition requesting that Mount Gambier become one of 24 locations around the country to be home to a “Head to Health” satellite centre to service the mental health needs of the Limestone Coast community.

Accompanying the 2600 signatures were a number of letters of support from Limestone Coast community organisations.

As part of a major mental health reform, the Federal Government is creating a national network of multidisciplinary mental health treatment centres for adults, youth and children to contribute to addressing the ‘missing middle’ service gap.

Through the 2021-22 Budget, the government has provided $487.2m for the initial establishment of eight new Head to Health adult mental health centres and 24 satellite centres, and ongoing funding for the eight currently funded centres.

Petition organiser Ben Hood presented Mr Pasin with the petition recently in Mount Gambier.

“The community have sent me a clear message they want me to fight for a Head to Health site for Mount Gambier and I’m very happy to do so,” Mr Pasin said.

“Mental health is an issue that will impact everyone at one time or another.

Giving the community the services required to tackle these individual issues when they arise will make for a happier, healthier Limestone Coast community.

“The flow on benefits of that are immeasurable.

“Much like the Headspace model, Head to Health sites are intended to complement, not replace or duplicate, mental health services already provided in the community.

“If Head to Health becomes as successful as Headspace I’d love to see sites rolled out across communities in Barker.”