1058. Hon Alison Xamon to the parliamentary secretary representing the Minister for Mental Health:
I refer to the Inspector of Custodial Services Report, Transitional Services in Western Australian Prisons, and to concerns that ‘many prisoners with chronic mental health conditions left prison with little to no formal support’, and I ask:
(a) has the Mental Health Commission undertaken or planned any work to address this gap; and
(b) if yes, please provide information about this work?
Hon Alanna Clohesy replied:
I am advised that:
(a) Yes.
(b) In response to an identified service gap for people with chronic mental health conditions transitioning to the community, the Mental Health Commission commenced commissioning the forensic mental health prison in-reach transition service, in February 2017. The service is delivered by the North Metropolitan Health Service, State Forensic Mental Health Service. The service provides transition of care services to prisoners entering and exiting public metropolitan prisons including Bandyup, Banksia Hill, Casuarina, Karnet, Wooroloo and Hakea. The service assists prisoners who experience severe and enduring mental illness with complex co-morbidity, in preparing for release. It also facilitates transitions between prison and community mental health services through the provision of transition care planning including assessment, case management, treatment intervention and consultation.