Bondi Junction victim's mum calls for more mental health funding and servicing
The grieving mother of a Bondi Junction attack victim has made an urgent appeal for more mental health funding and services.
Elizabeth Young's daughter Jade was one of six people killed by 40-year-old Joel Cauchi at Westfield Bondi Junction in Sydney's east last month.
Her heartbreak was on show at her daughter's memorial just ten days later.
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Jade Young was one of six people killed by 40-year-old Joel Cauchi at Westfield Bondi Junction last month. 9News
"Our lives have been fractured, there will be no back to normal," she said.
Cauchi suffered from schizophrenia but had stopped taking his medication before the attack.
"I want politicians both federal and state to address the gaps in mental health care to make it a safer world for our girls and all Australians," Young said.
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Elizabeth Young said "there will be no back to normal" for her family. 9News
The NSW Community Mental Health Services Priority Issues Paper has suggested about 58,000 people with severe mental health needs are missing out on care each year.
The state government analysis attributed this to a stretched system that needs more money, more workers, and better processes for dealing with people in crisis.
Young has told the Sydney Morning Herald today of her frustration at a lack of action despite numerous reviews.
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"Always, the need for more funding is revealed," Young told the newspaper.
"More trained healthcare workers, more hospital beds, more community health centres, mobile facilities: nothing changes."
About 100,000 people turned up at emergency departments with a mental health concern last year, marking a five per cent increase on the year before.
Readers seeking support can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or beyond blue on 1300 22 4636.
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