Boom hurts mentally ill

By Bridget Brady
THE lack of infrastructure in the booming area of Casey is further isolating residents with a mental illness, according to the head of a mental illness organisation.
The chief executive of Ermha, Peter Waters, said loneliness was common among people with a mental illness, and the lack of services in Casey did not help those affected.
His comments came after the latest research from national mental health charity SANE Australia revealed that half the people in the country affected by mental illness had no friends and little physical intimacy with others.
Mr Waters said infrastructure was lacking in the growth corridor, especially public transport services. And many residents with a mental illness relied on public transport to connect with the community.
“The tyranny of distance and poor public transport adds to the difficulties,” he said.
“Social isolation is a common side-effect of severe mental illness and is common right across the south-east.”
People with a mental illness depended on trains and buses to get to appointments and visit friends and family, Mr Waters said.
“Casey is growing at such a rapid pace and it is harder for people to access services,” he said.
The study also revealed one in six people who had a mental illness had not touched or been touched by another person for more than 12 months.
SANE Australia executive director Barbara Hocking said extreme social isolation impeded people’s recovery.