THE Kinglake community has been rocked by another death as locals continue to struggle with the trauma of the Black Saturday bushfires that killed 42 people in the town.
It is understood police are investigating the suspected suicide of a school bus driver on August 16 at nearby Pheasant Creek.
The driver’s husband found her body when she did not turn up for the afternoon school bus run.
Acting Sergeant Sharon Darcy confirmed police attended a non-suspicious death at 4.30pm on August 16 at Pheasant Creek and were preparing a report for the coroner. The death follows four suicides in April.
Residents have said many locals struggling with the trauma of the inferno had been hit by a lack of mental health services in the area. Because the fire-affected area is in the Health Department’s Hume region, the nearest in-patient psychiatric beds are hours away in Shepparton and Seymour.
But Deputy Premier and Bushfire Response Minister Peter Ryan said last week that the rules had been relaxed and residents from the Kinglake area could get help through Eastern Health, Northern Health and Austin Health.
Kinglake youth worker Lesley Bebbington, who campaigned for closer mental health services, welcomed the news. She said if locals needed an in-patient psychiatric bed they could go to the Northern Hospital, Austin Hospital or Maroondah Hospital instead of Shepparton.
● If you’re distressed phone Lifeline 131114; Mensline 1300789978; Kids Helpline 1800551800
