| starcommunity.com.au
Thursday, 5 February, 2015 Page 5
ABC of health fight By LACHLAN MOORHEAD JOHN Jakupi is no stranger to Casey. The 41-year-old clinical psychologist grew up in Endeavour Hills and went to school across the tracks at the long demolished Doveton High School. He is also responsible for setting up four bulk-billing mental health facilities in Narre Warren, Cranbourne, Pakenham and Frankston within the past 24 months which are specifically aimed at children and adults who cannot afford private practice counselling. The facilities, under the banner of South Eastern Counselling and Psychology, were inundated with patients from all throughout Casey and Cardinia and had a waiting list within three months. Two and a half years ago John watched as the ABC broadcast a heartbreaking Four Corners special detailing the severity of youth mental health problems and teenage suicide in the City of Casey. Entitled There is No 3G in Heaven, the Four Corners episode focused on a community summit held at the Casey Council chambers to address the issue, convened by Holt MP Anthony Byrne. It served as John’s inspiration. “It was actually that TV show that prompted me because that show raised a
Psychologist John Jakupi and his team are passionate about providing bulkbilling mental health services in Casey to those families who need them most. 133785 Picture: DONNA OATES “I felt I had been a little bit cocooned. I was working in Berwick, a fairly affluent area, and so it was an eyeopener for me and it was sort of a slap in the face.”
lot of problems and a lot of questions,” he said. “After seeing that program, within a month I’d leased a place and I said let’s get the ball rolling.
After watching Four Corners, John viewed mental health problems in Casey and Cardinia as being at crisis point. “It was a problem, it’s
always been a problem and it always will be a problem but I didn’t yet see it as a crisis,” he said. “It wasn’t until the numbers escalated and I’ve gone ‘wait a minute, the schools in Berwick are now being affected by this’. “I said OK, this is in our lap right now, what the hell are we doing?” The South Eastern Counselling and Psychology service now has a team of 26 staff working across its four facilities. Without knowing exact statistics, John feels the service must be having an impact on improving mental health throughout the municipality judging by the waiting lists and he said he would like to consider sending staff into local schools to verify the progress. But John also stressed that the service catered for all age groups, including adults, seniors and those children younger than 13. “I know it sounds a bit cliched but I like to think that if one of my kids were struggling, they could find help pretty easily and not have to worry about their income,” John said. For more information, visit www.secounselling. com.au. Those in need of immediate assistance, or who need to talk to someone they can trust, can phone Lifeline on 13 11 14.
1123241-PB12-14
Connecting people and communities
Tough Case? Get a tough Free advice on Lawyer ● CONTESTED WILLS ● DECEASED ESTATES ● FAMILY LAW (Divorce) ● POLICE CHARGES
Neal CollinLAWYERS
9707 0566
11 Langmore Lane Berwick Vic. 3806 www.nealcollinlawyers.com.au E: admin@nealcollinlawyers.com.au
Capri Blinds
& Curtains • Vertical Blinds • Awnings • Cedar Blinds • Swags & Tails • Slimline Micro • Roller Shutters • Holland Blinds
Up to
50%
• Roman & 1124954-FA12-14
BN
Austrian
OFF
Factory Direct
• Canopies • Plantation Shutters
6–12 Months Interest FREE
PH 9794 8899 MOB 0418 555 672 149 Princes Highway (Lonsdale Street), Dandenong (between Foster and Webster Streets) www.capriblinds.com.au sales@capriblinds.com.au
v
CLOSING DOWN 80% OFF *100s OF LEATHER LOUNGES MUST GO!
UP TO
Comfort beyond imagination
S Y A D
QUEEN SIZE MATTRESS ONLY
*
$199
ROYALE RRP $599 5 YEARS WARRANTY
CONTOUR LATEX ORTHOPEDIC QUEEN MATTRESS *
Made in Australia by slumber zone
RRP $2289
$799
Made in Australia by slumber zone
T S$999 RRP $2999
NOW
A L
*
QUEEN SIZE MATTRESS ONLY
$299*
ORTHOPEDIC RRP $999 10 YEARS WARRANTY
KING SIZE MATTRESS DREAM MAKERS SPINAL - PUSTURE
2.8 M x 3.6M
1159740-AM43-14
ALL STOCK MUST GO!
*
RRP $3789 NOW
LEATHER LOUNGES DIRECT 200 Princes Hwy Dandenong (cnr Adelaide St)
Ph: 9794 9899 *Conditions Apply ask in store. Photo’s for illustration purposes only
$999 Heatherton Road
Pri
nc
es
Ade laid e St
Quality fabric corner, pockets spring seating made in Australia
Hw
Open 7 Days
Dandenong 1.5km
20
yt
0
oD
(Mel Ref 90 A3)
an
de
no
ng