NEWS DESK
Mental health disorders on rise Liz Bell liz@mpnews.com.au PEOPLE living in Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula have higher levels of mental health disorders than the Victorian average, with health services struggling to cope with demand. Figures from the state’s mental health intake service, Neami, put the two areas ahead of some of its biggest neighbours, including Bayside, when it comes to mental health. Peninsula Health, the peninsula’s main providers of health services, is stretched to capacity, with waiting lists in many cases for people needing assistance. Peninsula Health operations director Sharon
Sherwood says demand for mental health care on the peninsula had been steadily rising for the past decade, with most patients requiring long-term treatment. Peninsula Health has about 115 residential beds in the public system for people with mental health illnesses, with about 70 of those available for young people. Courtney Gould from Headspace Frankston said the number of young people needing help was “huge”, with one in four young people – or about 10,000 people - in the Frankston and Mornington Peninsula area experiencing a mental health issue in any 12-month period. The 2010 Australia Bureau of Statistics report gives a snapshot of mental health in young people
in Frankston, with 16.2 per cent of secondary students having very high levels of psychological distress, higher than the state average by 4 per cent. In 2010, almost seven out of every 1000 young people on the peninsula were hospitalised with a psychiatric condition, slightly higher than the Victorian average. In Frankston it jumped to around nine out of every 1000. Unemployment and homelessness are thought to be factors, with rates higher than the 12 per cent Victorian average in West Park (24.3 per cent) Baxter-Pearcedale (18.2 per cent), Tyabb (16.9 per cent) and Hastings (15.9 per cent). Depression is revealed as a key issue for young people in the recently released Local Government Areas Strategic Framework for Young People
2015-2019 report by Frankston and Mornington Peninsula Shire councils. An increase in young people with depression is also evident in Mornington Peninsula Shire’s ‘Communities that Care Healthy Neighbourhood School Survey’ results 2012 report. That survey found nearly one-third of young people in the Mornington Peninsula Shire had recently been bullied. Ms Gould said specialist support was the key to helping young people bounce back from mental illness. “We know that if a young person has a mental health issue and engages with treatment, they are less likely to go on to develop more issues,” she said. “They learn tools to cope, manage stress and look after themselves”. Headspace helps people recognise symptoms and learn where to get help and how to look after themselves and their friends. “The earlier things are picked up and dealt with, the quicker recovery time and less impact on their lives,” Ms Gould said. Homelessness has been a growing concern across Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula for several years. Records from Christian group, SalvoCare, show there were 2200 “unique clients” seeking emergency housing in Frankston in 2012-13 and 600 “repeat clients”. Volunteer organisation Community Support Frankston reports 444 people with no fixed address needed help from the agency in 2014. Picture: Jarryd Bravo
Age no barrier for this music man AT 90, Sidney Cartlidge deserves a well-earned rest and could be forgiven for hanging up his harmonica. But the music has not stopped for the sprightly nonagenarian, who still enjoys entertaining others and can be found regularly delivering “music therapy” and playing tunes at aged care homes around Mornington. A harmonica player since he was 10 in Staffordshire, England, Mr Cartlidge’s love of music and enthusiasm for performing have not waned over the years, despite a forced hiatus in 2014 when he and his musician mates had to seek a new venue. At the time, the self-funded concerts he performed at the Morven Manor retirement village were so popular and the crowds so large that the band literally outgrew their welcome and had to start looking for a new venue with more parking spaces. Two years later Mr Cartlidge is still performing at aged care centres around the peninsula and still believes music therapy is the best medicine for all people in “their retirement years”. “It brings new friendships and extends the desire to get involved with many senior activities on the Mornington region,” he said. Mr Cartlidge firmly believes that brain functions such as knowledge and understanding are enhanced as people age, and that these open up new activities and opportunities. Hs determination to stay involved and be active is testament to that philosophy. At his home at Morven Manor “Sid” has a range of harmonicas to cover different events, a keyboard and his “latest find”, a Technics theatre organ. His repertoire is arranged to provide songs that relate to “the golden age” - great music of bygone days, including When Irish Eyes Are Smiling, Music from Amsterdam, It’s a Long Way to Tipperary, and Waltzing Matilda. Liz Bell
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Mornington News 11 October 2016