Ballarat clerical sexual abuse survivors are pushing for a dedicated mental health crisis coordinator to end the scourge of premature deaths linked to sexual abuse and trauma across the region.
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In the wake of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse announcing it is capping its private sessions with victims, survivor Peter Blenkiron says there has never been a more urgent need for a paid specialist to be employed in the city.
He said the rate of survivors coming forward is soaring and suicide remained an epidemic in Ballarat.
Mr Blenkiron described the sky-rocketing rates of family violence, drug and alcohol abuse, crime and premature deaths across the city as a “hidden mental health fire” burning in Ballarat of which childhood sexual abuse was just one element.
“The suicide rate in Ballarat is through the roof, not just from clergy abuse but because it's culturally acceptable, as an option, to take your own life," Mr Blenkiron said.
"Everybody in Ballarat knows numerous people who have taken their own life. There are three suicides in the city per week. Then there are about five more attempted suicides. Those figures are just counting suicides... not premature deaths. If somebody crawls into the bottle or if somebody numbs themselves out with needles or drugs, they're not counted."
The idea of funding a mental health crisis worker was floated by survivors and health sector leaders at a stakeholder meeting late last year.
To date, no funds have been secured for the position.
"The pain inside, sits inside, until you're able to heal it and people often self medicate as a way to cope," Mr Blenkiron said.
"It's like a ticking time-bomb. Ballarat is such an epicentre of emotional trauma. For this reason, Ballarat is the place to test and try out new ways of healing. It can be used as blueprint for the rest of the country. Once the needs and systems of prevention and treatment are identified and trailed these can be shared with other communities."
Mr Blenkiron said the coordinator would be independent of all Ballarat health services including the Centre Against Sexual Assault and act as one-stop-place for survivors to link with the help they need.
“Their role would be to connect survivors to all the relevant health providers in Ballarat and Grampians region,” he said.
“It takes the role survivors have been doing for years in advocating for other survivors to a professional level."
He said the the appointment of a mental health crisis worker could could form the beginning of a mental health steering committee being established in Ballarat and could link to the work being undertaken in schools by survivors.
Survivors are working with principals at schools impacted by the sexual abuse tragedy including St Patrick’s College and St Alipius Parish School to rebuild trust and create programs to prevent abuse.
Survivor David Ridsdale said while Case 28 of the royal commission which investigated abuse in the Ballarat Catholic diocese, was a key part of the city’s facing up to its harrowing past, it only touched the surface.
“It is imperative that there is no illusion that child abuse was a problem of the Catholic Church or only men were involved,” Mr Ridsdale said.
“The truth is Ballarat is facing a mental health emergency that we now know impacts the entire city.”
He said the ripple effects of trauma can be seen daily in mental health issues from mood disorders, substance addiction and suicide.
“It does not benefit the city health by applying band-aid solutions to an issue that is bigger than first perceived,” Mr Ridsdale said.
“It requires specialist support to identify the holistic concerns related to trauma and abuse rather than the symptomatic piecemeal approach we currently have.”
Survivor Andrew Collins said victims and those affected by sexual abuse should not have to be advocating for themselves.
He said survivors had been left reeling after the recent sex abuse inquiry hearings with many still struggling to cope in the aftermath.
“When they are in crisis they can't think and function normally and need to have someone who can work with them and for them,” Mr Collins said.
He said a paid mental health crisis worker would save lives and if survivors could seek support earlier the damage to their life could be minimised.
“The suicide rate is far too high in Ballarat and given the town's high levels of historical child sexual abuse, it's not surprising that the ripple effects in the community are being seen through things like alcohol and drug problems, poverty, mental and physical health issues, family violence and premature deaths.”
• To contact CASA, located on the corner of Vale and Edwards streets, Sebastopol, call 5320 3933 or free call 24 hours 1800 806 292. Lifeline can be accessed on 13 11 14.