Despite a long history of assurances, promises, pledges and plain old politics, the system never seems to be cured of a sickness that has been putting lives at risk, wasting valuable police time and placing families of mental health sufferers under even more stress.

For some reason there seems to be a complete lack of will of behalf of governments to address the dreadful lack of services south of Shellharbour.

It is a poor reflection on the health system as a whole that it can take up to three months to see a psychiatrist. When you have an illness, you want it treated. With mental illness you want it treated close to home, where the support and love of family is nearby and the chances of recovery are therefore greater.

However, the allocation of mental health services suggests that from the State Government’s viewpoint, Shoalhaven and points further south are second class when it comes to services.

No amount of spin from the legion of public relations puffers in the Iemma Government can hide the fact that mental health services in this part of the world are in a complete shambles and people are suffering needlessly because

of it.

The sick system is long overdue for some treatment itself.