A new Mental Health and Wellbeing Local is set to open in the Greater Bendigo-Loddon-Campaspe area, administered by Mind Australia in partnership with Echuca Regional Health, Salvation Army, Thorne Harbour Health, Bendigo Health and Bendigo and District Aboriginal Co-operative.
Support will be free and can be accessed without a doctor’s referral.
Mental health professionals will administer telehealth consultations before evolving to in-person, although a start date for the program in the region is yet to be confirmed.
The program has provided pivotal “front door” access to mental health support, according to Victorian Minister for Mental Health Ingrid Stitt.
“The Royal Commission (into Victoria’s Mental Health System) showed us that there can be a number of barriers hindering people’s access to the mental health system. That is why our Locals are a critically important ‘front door’ to getting them the help they need,” Ms Stitt said.
Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals are targeted towards people aged 26 and over and are part of a push to rebuild the state’s mental health and wellbeing system following the Royal Commission.
Mind Australia north-west Victoria general manager John Bamborough said the program was generated by significant demand in local communities.
“Driven by lived experience expertise and local community need, the Greater Bendigo-Loddon-Campaspe Local will implement a ‘how can we help?’ and ‘no wrong door’ approach to enable more people to access the support they need, when they need it,” Mr Bamborough said.
“People will be able to self-refer and there is no eligibility criteria to access support. You don’t need a referral from your GP — you can ring up or walk in and be connected to a Mind community mental health or peer practitioner with a lived experience of mental health and wellbeing challenges.”
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