The McGowan Government is working to deliver its election commitment for a community mental health step up/step down service for the Mid-West region.
An existing State Government site, the former Geraldton Sobering Up Centre, will be repurposed to provide a new community mental health service – $5.93 million has been committed in capital funding over the next three years.
The transformation will offer short-term residential individualised care for people either following discharge from hospital, and/or for people living in the community who are experiencing a change in their mental health to avoid a possible hospitalisation.
Community mental health step up/step down services aim to support people living in the community by providing a range of support programs and activities within a residential style setting, by offering additional support for the individual to manage a change in their mental health and being closer to the support from family and friends.
The service will benefit people already living in the Mid-West by providing an additional service that will be delivered through a partnership between a non-government service provider and the local mental health service.
One in five Australians will be affected by a mental health issue each year and the vast majority of those people receive their care while living and working in their community, among their family and friends.
More regional community mental health step up/step down services are planned for Bunbury, Kalgoorlie, Karratha and Broome.
Step up/step down services are currently operational in Joondalup (22-bed), Rockingham (10-bed) and Albany (six-bed).
For more information on community mental health step up/step down services or to watch videos about the existing services, visit https://www.mhc.wa.gov.au/stepupstepdown
As noted by Mental Health Minister Roger Cook:
“I am proud to see the delivery of this election commitment move a step closer so we can provide a vital service to the residents of the Mid-West. These 10 beds will help people avoid the need to stay in hospital or help people transition from hospital back into the community.
“The McGowan Government is continuing to invest in mental health services for all Western Australians and is prioritising the establishment of services close to where people live.”
As noted by Agricultural Region MLC Darren West:
“The Geraldton community has long been calling for mental health services based in the Mid-West region.
“This new 10-bed community mental health step up/step down will provide a superb service closer to where people live and closer to their local support networks.”
