My adjournment matter relates to mental health services in western Victoria and is directed to the Minister for Mental Health in the other place, Lisa Neville. In early April this year the minister announced the expansion of the Youth Early Psychosis service in Warrnambool, which will also assist communities beyond Warrnambool in the south-west.
The program is an early intervention service that focuses on youths from 16 to 25 years of age who are at risk of or are experiencing their first episode of psychosis, and getting them treatment as quickly as possible. This initiative is very much welcomed in western Victoria. We are pleased that the Bracks government continues to have regional Victoria as a very high priority.
My question is this: could the minister please inquire and advise me of the ongoing use of that service and monitor the different forms of youth psychosis so that such information can enable the government to be more aware of emerging trends and to finely tune policy initiatives so that we can be ahead in the delivery of such mental illness services?