As a response to a key recommendation of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System, the State Government has invested a total of $868.6 million in the 2020/2021 Victorian Budget to ensure Victorians have the mental health support they need.
Recently the designs for the new acute mental health facilities were released which will be built across Victoria. The designs have been developed in consultation with carers, clinicians, staff and consumers with lived in experience of the mental health system. Each of the facilities have been carefully designed to consider a safe, welcoming and healing environment for consumers on their treatment and recovery journey. This will also relieve the pressure to emergency departments and deliver acute mental health services.
Out of the 120 new mental health beds and 4 new mental health facilities, Melbourne’s West is expected to receive 52 new beds which will be allocated at Western Health’s Sunshine Hospital and a new acute mental health facility in St Albans.
With works set to begin in mid-2021 all facilities and mental health beds are expected to be operational by 2023.