These comments come in response to complaints from Wayside’s
Potts Point neighbours, who say patrons of the chapel’s outreach program often
engage in street drinking and anti-social behaviour in nearby Orwell Lane.
As well as being homeless, such patrons often suffer from
mental illness and drug and alcohol related addiction. This is referred to as
‘Dual Diagnosis’.
“These neighbours of ours have my complete sympathy. I just
don’t know what we’re supposed do about it,” Mr Long said. “They move off our
property and go up the alleyway, and then they get completely blind.”
Mr Long said the NSW government does not provide enough
funding for, or place enough emphasis on, issues associated with Dual
Diagnosis. “Those with Dual Diagnosis are bounced between mental healthcare
units and substance abuse units, neither of which will treat them”, he said.
“There is a need for some kind of system of support and accommodation for the
mentally ill that mostly doesn’t exist … it’s in such a small amount that it
doesn’t come anywhere near to solving the problem.”
Member for Bligh, Clover Moore, said she has been pushing
the NSW Government to follow Victoria’s
lead by developing and implementing a Dual Diagnosis strategy.
“Up to 90 per cent of homeless people are likely to have a
mental illness and an alcohol or drug problem,” Ms Moore said. “Many of these
people are on the street because the mainstream health services have not been
able to help them.” Ms Moore said this was a problem across the entire NSW
health system.
A spokeswoman for Cherie Burton, Minister assisting the
Minister for Health, said the increased use of the drug Ice has put additional
pressure on mental health and drug and alcohol related services. “That is why
the Iemma Government has invested $23 million to build Australia’s first integrated drug and alcohol
and mental health facility at St Vincent’s
Hospital,” she said.
She said the State Government has also invested $17.6
million as part of its New Directions for Mental Health package, which
specifically targets Dual Diagnosis.
Nick van Breda, a street outreach worker with Wayside, said
some neighbours of Wayside still feel the chapel is incapable of dealing with
the needs of its many patrons. “The reality is we’re one of very few services
that will help them,” he said. “If you throw a drug addiction on top of the
mental health problem that’s when doors start closing in your face.”
[South Sydney Herald November 2006]