Libby Mettam promises $80m for mental health and suicide prevention at public health debate

Liberal leader Libby Mettam has used a debate on public health to announce her party will spend an extra $80 million for mental health and suicide prevention if it wins the next State election.

The debate on Thursday, hosted by the WA Public Health Association of Australia ahead of the March 8 poll, saw Health and Mental Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson, Ms Mettam and Dr Brad Pettitt — the only Greens MP in the WA Parliament — make their pitch on preventative health measures.

Ms Mettam said suicides among Indigenous Australians in the Kimberley occurred as frequently as twice a month.

The Liberal leader pledged $40m over four years for suicide prevention — with a focus on the State’s far north.

She also pledged the same amount towards preventative mental health, saying for each dollar invested in prevention the State could save $14.30 in overall health costs.

“The earlier we identify mental health issues, and seek to address those issues, the better the long-term outcome for both the patient and the health system,” Ms Mettam said.

The Liberal leader, who is also shadow health and mental minister, said current investment in preventative mental health was 2.43 per cent of the mental health budget, and set to fall to 1.66 per cent in 2027-28.

“A WA Liberal Government will reverse the decline and commit to spending five per cent of the mental health budget on prevention,” she said.

Ms Sanderson admitted that the Government’s target of 5 per cent of health spending to be allocated to preventative measures was increasingly difficult to achieve as the cost of health overall skyrocketed.

“Over the last four years alone, we’ve spent $50 billion on health and mental health. $50 billion is a huge number, so it is absolutely imperative that we get to that target, but it is a long term reform,” the minister said.

She cited preventative measures the Government had already introduced that would have a long term benefit including free flu vaccines, free RSV immunisations for infants and a suicide sanctuary in Subiaco.

Ms Mettam was challenged on her pledge to ban puberty blockers for gender affirming care for teens aged 16 and under.

She said the policy did not mean the Liberals were not committed to supporting mental health care for transgender youth.

Ms Sanderson said puberty blockers were part of a range of therapy options and that Labor would not restrict those options.

“I’m of the view that politicians should not be dictating what’s in or out,” she said.

“It is up to clinicians to determine with their patients what is the best form of therapy and support for their family, for their child and for that child’s carers.”

There was broad cross-party consensus on maintaining a ban on pokies in pubs, cracking down on vape retailers and support for syringe exchange programs.

Only Dr Pettitt supported legalising recreational cannabis and raising the criminal age of responsibility from 10 to 14.

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