Victorians are being invited to have their say about the local mental health services they want to see as the Labor government delivers a key recommendation of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System.
The development of new Local Adult and Older Adult Mental Health and Wellbeing Services is at the heart of the mental health reform ─ allowing Victorians to get the care they need much sooner, and closer to their families and communities.
The new services will act as a “front door” to the reformed mental health system – connecting Victorians to the care they need in their own community, and focusing on prevention and early intervention for adults who are experiencing mental illness or psychological distress as well as treatment for alcohol and drug addiction.
“Community care is at the heart of our mental health reform – and we want to hear from the community to help us create fit-for-purpose local mental health and wellbeing services that deliver for Victorians,” Mental Health minister James Merlino said.
“These new local services will transform the way we deliver treatment, care and support for Victorians with mental illness and psychological distress – giving them easy-to-access local services and support within their community.”
The Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System recommended 50 to 60 new Local Adult and Older Adult Mental Health and Wellbeing Services be established across Victoria by the end of 2026.
Creating community care starts within local communities – and Victorians are invited to share their thoughts on local services and the design of the treatment, care and support through the Engage Victoria website at engage.vic.gov.au.
To build a new mental health and wellbeing system from the ground up that meets the needs of all Victorians, the Victorian Budget 2021/22 invested a record $3.8 billion in mental health and wellbeing services and support.
The Victorian Budget 2021/22 included $263.8 million to start work on the first 20 of the new local services across Victoria, with six fast-tracked facilities to open in Benalla, Brimbank, Frankston, Greater Geelong, the Latrobe Valley and Whittlesea next year.
