Benjamin Millar
People struggling with the mental toll wrought by the latest lengthy COVID-19 lockdown will have access to a new ‘pop-up’ community mental health service.
The pop-up centres, to be delivered by community health providers, will open from the end of this month across Melbourne and regional Victoria.
A dedicated triage and referral hotline and website will be established in coming days so people can start booking appointments.
The centre covering Melton residents will be run by cohealth while Moorabool’s will be run by Uniting.
The state government will invest $13.3 million towards the services, with around 90 dedicated clinicians providing 93,000 extra hours of wellbeing checks and counselling.
Minister for Mental Health James Merlino said the new package will establish local, accessible services to support the mental health and wellbeing of thousands of Victorians close to home.
“We’re not wasting a moment delivering the huge reforms the Royal Commission recommended for our state’s mental health services – but we know the pandemic has increased immediate demand, so we’re investing to make sure more Victorians have access to the support they need right now,” he said.
“Our local communities have been so vital in supporting us over the past 18 months – and these innovative local pop-up mental health services will deliver the support people need, close to home.”
A further $1 million will be spent expanding the Triple P parenting programs, supporting more than 20,000 Victorian families whose children are experiencing anxiety.
Another $1.2 million will boost the capacity of peak LGBTIQ+ community organisations including Switchboard, Thorne Harbour Health and Drummond Street Family Services.
It comes as the rollout begins on 14 new Infant, Child and Youth Area Mental Health Services, a key recommendation from the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System.
The services provide specialist care for high-risk cases and help with early intervention treatment for children and young people experiencing mild and moderate mental health concerns.
