Mental Health Services

In reply to Mr PICTON (Kaurna) (30 July 2021). (Estimates Committee B)

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing): I have been advised:

1. Due to a change in the telephone systems and site location of the mental health triage service, the 2019-20 data is unable to be obtained. In 2020-21 there were 71,607 calls into mental health triage.

2. In 2020-21, 56.44 per cent of calls were answered. The average response time to answer calls made to the service was four minutes and 18 seconds.

3. In 2020-21 the mental health triage service had 23.49 FTE. There is no reduction in staff budgeted in 2021-22.

4. In 2020-21 the mental health triage service referred 13,862 consumers to a range of community supports. Mental health triage data does not capture the number of callers referred on to emergency departments.