New walk-in mental health service opens in Brimbank

A new mental health service delivered by cohealth in partnership with the University of Melbourne’s Department of Psychiatry and Clarity Health Care has now opened in Melbourne’s west.

The Brimbank Mental Health and Wellbeing Local in Sunshine will provide easily accessible treatment, care and support to community members experiencing mental health conditions or psychological distress without the need for a referral or appointment.

Staffed by qualified mental health professionals and peer-support workers, the service will operate as a ‘front door’ to the mental health and wellbeing system, providing services that will cater to the diverse needs of the community.

The Department of Psychiatry will support the service through the development of a new model of care, which will combine community-focused clinical care informed by lived experience with research and teaching to improve mental health outcomes.

Clinicians and researchers will collaborate with the community and multidisciplinary teams at the Brimbank Local to develop and deliver this innovative approach to mental health care.

The Department will also drive translational mental health research capability, producing novel research which will inform changes in clinical practice, health policy and service delivery.

“We are thrilled to be a partner at the Brimbank Mental Health and Wellbeing Local, where we will be expanding comprehensive mental health care and support.” says Professor Chris Davey, Head of the Department of Psychiatry.

“Co-designing new models of care with diverse community members who have lived experience can ensure patient needs are met and makes a positive impact on mental health outcomes in the Brimbank community,” said Associate Professor Mahesh Jayaram from the Department of Psychiatry.

The Brimbank Local was established in response to the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System, which recommended the establishment of up to 60 local mental health and wellbeing services throughout the state.