 | BETTER MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT FOR GEELONG
From the Minister for Mental Health
Friday, 29 October 2010
Extra help and support for an additional 160 people a year living with a mental illness in and around Geelong will be delivered thanks to a $3 million Brumby Labor Government expansion of mental health facilities.
Minister for Mental Health Lisa Neville today opened an additional eight beds as part of an overall $27 million package of improvement work at Barwon Health.
“We understand Victorians are concerned about the health and wellbeing of their loved ones, that is why we are providing the right care when and where it is needed,” Ms Neville said.
“This development will improve Barwon Health’s ability to respond to emergency admissions and deliver even better results for people who need acute mental health inpatient treatment.
“It creates six new acute adult beds, two new aged acute beds and includes the development of an area for mental health triage.
“Improvement works on existing high dependency and administration areas to accommodate the new beds have also been carried out.”
Ms Neville said this development was a part of package of investments aimed at improving the mental health support and treatment for people living in and around Victoria.
“We know that one in five Victorians suffer from a mental illness during their lifetime,” she said.
“This is the latest in a range of new mental health initiatives aimed improving better mental health services and outcomes for people in Geelong.
“In the 2010-11 State Budget we allocated $4.9 million to establish two Youth Early Intervention Teams in two regional areas of Victoria, with one to be based in Geelong.
“We know that early intervention is vital to ensuring that mental health issues in young Victorians do not develop into life-long problems and this initiative will ensure that young people in Geelong have the best possible support.
“The 2010-11 Budget also included an additional $360,000 for intensive clinical and support packages for people who otherwise may require admission to a Secure Extended Care Unit.
“A further $138,000 has also been provided for a forensic mental health clinical specialist to assist other mental health workers to identify, assess and develop appropriate management plans for people with high risk/challenging behaviours.
“The Brumby Labor Government is also investing $365,000 to improve services to young people including the Dual Diagnosis Homelessness Service in Barwon.
“We have also increased specialist mental health residential beds for the aged at the McKellar Centre from 30 to 45 beds and have established a Prevention and Recovery Care (PARC) service with 10 places, including six beds at Barwon Health’s Community Rehabilitation Facility.”
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