General
WA’s chief mental health advocate Debora Colvin reflects on 12 years’ service

Every day in Western Australia, about a dozen people might wake up in a locked mental health ward.
Key points:
- Debora Colvin is moving on after 12 years as WA’s chief mental health advocate
- She says the number of young people requiring services has risen every year
- Among the many hurdles still facing the sector are long waitlists for services
A place that feels much like a jail.
They may have been taken to a hospital emergency department with a serious mental health issue. They may have tried to self-harm, or had a violent episode.
After coming out of sedation, they find themselves in an unfamiliar room.
They have their phones taken away from them and may not even be allowed a visitor.
There are strict rules in WA about who can be…
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