Sarah Oliver
The state government will be investing over $100 million to deliver a Specialist Women’s Mental Health Service to women in Melton, Moorabool and across the state, in response to key recommendations of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System.
The service will provide care for those who have experienced trauma and sexual abuse, women presenting with eating disorders, women experiencing perinatal mental health concerns and women who identify as LGBTIQ+, in partnership with Alfred Health, Ramsay Health Care and Goulburn Valley Health.
The Royal Commission recommended that 35 acute beds be created for public patients in a private setting, easing pressure on the public system and ensuring women get the care and support they need, as soon as they need it. These beds will be established in Melbourne and Shepparton.
The Royal Commission heard from many women who described experiences of gender-based harm or abuse in the mental health system.
The response model is designed to ensure gender and sexual safety for women in acute inpatient settings, helping them to recover in a setting appropriate to their level of need.
It will also provide ongoing consultation and support to build the capacity of local mental health services across the state, helping all health services deliver trauma-informed care for Victorian women who are experiencing acute mental health conditions.
The proposed model of care has been co-designed in consultation with women with lived experience of all sides of the mental health system.
Acting Premier and Minister for Mental Health James Merlino said people should feel safe when they seek mental health care.
“Many Victorian women told us through the Royal Commission their experiences within the system haven’t supported their recovery effectively – and we’ve worked with many of those women to design services that will meet their needs.”
