Healthscope welcomes appointment of Deputy CMO for Mental Health

Healthscope welcomes the appointment of Dr Ruth Vine as Australia’s Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Mental Health.

Healthscope CEO Steven Rubic said that Dr Vine was well placed to work with Governments and the healthcare sector to manage and respond to the rising mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Dr Vine is one of Australia’s leading psychiatrists with a deep understanding of the mental health challenges facing Australia. These challenges have been further amplified by both the COVID-19 pandemic, and the necessary steps taken to control the outbreak,” Mr Rubic said.

Healthscope operates 11 mental health facilities across Australia, and is seeing first-hand the mental health impacts of COVID-19.

“Across our mental health facilities, we have seen a substantial increase in the number of people seeking treatment,” Mr Rubic said.

“In particular, the severity of the issues with which people are presenting is also escalating, including increased levels of self-harm and attempted suicide.

“We’ve seen a marked increase in patients seeking admission for alcohol detox programs, and patients presenting with their first mental health illness – all of which our clinicians are identifying as the direct results of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We applaud the Federal Government for their foresight in appointing Dr Vine to this vital role, and Healthscope will offer her every support to identify and address the mental health needs of Australians.”