More mental health care for Canberrans
The ACT Government is growing mental health services so that more Canberrans can access specialised care when they or their loved ones are in need of support.
The 2018 Budget will deliver new supported accommodation options for people with complex mental health needs, as well as a boost to target services that support teenagers, older Canberrans and those transitioning out of the justice system.
This will see our investment in mental health services for the Canberra community grow to $157 million in 2018-19.
More supported accommodation for those experiencing mental illness
The ACT Government is delivering more supported accommodation places across the spectrum of care, ensuring we have the right type of supports in place to meet different mental health needs. The Government will provide $22.8 million over four years for new supported accommodation, which comprises $12.2 million for infrastructure costs and a further $10.7 million to manage and run the facilities. This includes:
- Establishing three, new supported accommodation properties for Canberrans experiencing mental illness who require long term, 24-hour support
- Building a Southside Community Step Up, Step Down short-term facility to help people stay out of hospital
- Refurbishing the Extended Care Unit at Brian Hennessey Rehabilitation Centre to provide an upgraded secure facility where mental health patients can gradually transition into supported accommodation.
More specialist mental healthcare services
The 2018 Budget will invest in more specialist, community-based mental health services addressing prevention and treatment through to recovery and ongoing support. This includes:
- $3.1 million to expand the Older Persons Mental Health Intensive Treatment Service to provide stronger case management and clinical care to older Canberrans being discharged from hospital, living in residential aged care or experiencing issues with housing
- $2.2 million to establish a recovery-focused, community outreach program for young Canberrans aged 12 to 18 years and to develop a model of care for young adults aged 18 to 25 years
- $1.3 million to provide more counsellors at headspace to support early intervention services for 12 to 25 year olds and youth wellbeing programs
- $889,000 to trial the establishment of an ACT Mental Health Recovery College to deliver educational, recovery-oriented programs helping people better understand and manage their mental illness
- $406,000 to extend the Mental Health Detention Exit Community Outreach program to help people leaving the Alexander Maconochie Centre to re-establish themselves in the community
- $350,000 to continue investment in suicide prevention and after care services to support people who have attempted suicide.
This new investment in mental health accommodation and support services will significantly boost the mental health care Canberrans can access when they or their loved ones are in crisis.
Media contact: Lisa Wills 0481 035 764 lisa.wills@act.gov.au