NEWS DESK
Pier again under pressure Stephen Taylor steve@mpnews.com.au ANOTHER big blow on Monday last week gave Mornington pier its second storm battering in two weeks. Huge seas and strong winds again smashed over the concrete structure which just two weeks before had seen nine 15-tonne concrete panels
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September 4th
Plan launched to A PLAN to halve Victoria’s suicide rate over the next decade by following up on hospital patients with mental health issues and increasing awareness in the community was launched by the state government in Frankston last week. Premier Daniel Andrews visited Frankston Hospital last Thursday (28 July) to announce a $27 million program, funded in this year’s state budget, aimed at increasing workforce training, schoolbased support and mental health literacy program within several regions including Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula. Suicide was the cause of death of 646 people across Victoria last year, more than double the road toll of 257. “For every suicide, there are many more people deeply affected – family, friends, carers, colleagues and communities. This is something we urgently need to change,” Mr Andrews said. Peninsula Health welcomed the four-year plan including the establishment of a new six-bed psychiatric unit at Frankston Hospital. Peninsula Health advised there were 4215 admissions linked to mental health at Frankston Hospital in 2014-15, an average of about 80 patients per week. “The ‘place-based approaches’ will allow us to implement new programs to ensure that all people presenting to our health service for care relating to self-harm or suicide attempts are identified and provided with intensive follow-up care,” Peninsula Health CEO Sue Williams said. Intensive community-based support trials for people who have attempted suicide will be introduced soon in six locations. The six areas - Mornington Peninsula/Frankston, Brimbank/Melton, Whittlesea, Mildura, Latrobe
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Mornington News 2 August 2016
torn off in 60-knot winds. Top deck planking, handrails and a seat were also damaged. Since that storm the outer section of the pier has been closed to the public. The damaged panels were recovered by divers and a crane on a barge and taken away for inspection. No details of what caused the pier to break down have been released by parks Victoria. Parks Victoria said there was no indication of
Suicide not painless: Frankston Hospital CEO Sue Williams, left, gives Premier Daniel Andrews and MP Paul Edbrooke, right, at Frankston Hospital last week. Picture: Yanni