Victoria
Wimmera residents call for urgent local mental health services
A Wimmera resident's five-hour public transport journey for therapy highlights the lack of local mental health services in western Victoria.
Residents of Victoria's Wimmera region are calling for urgent investment in local mental health services, highlighting a significant gap in care for an area facing some of the state's most severe mental health challenges. According to reporting by wire services, advocates say regional towns are being left behind while residents struggle to access basic psychiatric support nearby.
The difficulties are illustrated by the experience of Wimmera resident Stacey Kelly, who has been forced to travel extensively for her care. Since 2022, Ms Kelly has regularly undertaken a five-hour round trip on public transport just to access mental health treatment and services in Ballarat.
Her circumstances highlight the deep geographical divide in Victorian healthcare, where those living outside major hubs face substantial barriers to care. This travel requirement is particularly challenging for patients who are already dealing with severe psychological distress.
The lack of localised services comes despite clear evidence of high need in the community. The Wimmera region has some of the highest rates of mental health illness and suicide in Victoria, leading to growing community frustration that the area has been left out of healthcare planning.
At this stage, it remains unconfirmed whether the state government or regional health providers plan to establish a permanent mental health clinic in the Wimmera to alleviate the pressure on local residents. Advocacy groups are continuing to lobby for dedicated funding to ensure that vulnerable patients no longer have to rely on hours of public transport to see a clinician.
Watch to see how the Victorian Government responds to the growing community calls for localised mental health infrastructure in the Wimmera region.
This report draws on original reporting by Wire report.
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