Not-for-profit community health service, cohealth, has expanded the hours of operation at its Mental Health and Wellbeing Local in Brimbank and added new outreach workers to improve engagement.
Since April, the service has been offering a Saturday mental health telehealth service to improve access for people who cannot attend in person during the week.
cohealth also introduced two outreach workers and, in partnership with Jesuit Social Services, two dual diagnosis workers to the service who will go out into the community and engage with people who might need mental health support but may be reluctant or unable to attend the site.
The outreach workers will act as a bridge between the community and the Brimbank Local, with a particular focus on marginalised people.
Funded by the state government, the Mental Health and Wellbeing Local in Brimbank, at 45 Dickson Street, Sunshine, is a free, no appointment necessary, no referral required, mental health service that connects people to a range of mental health services and social supports under one roof.
The service is open for anyone aged 26 and over to walk-in Monday-Friday, from 8am-6pm.
cohealth chief executive Nicole Bartholomeusz said the health service has cemented itself within the Brimbank community, “… building relationships with locals to understand what mental health supports they need, and how to make that support accessible”.
“We have used the ‘no wrong door’ philosophy to welcome people into the Mental Health and Wellbeing Local in Brimbank, asking each of them ‘how can we help?’ and then we walk with them on their journey to wellbeing,” Ms Bartholomeusz said.
Through the Mental Health and Wellbeing Local in Brimbank, cohealth, in collaboration with Clarity Health Care and the University of Melbourne, is one of the front doors to Victoria’s mental health system, connecting people to a range of social and mental health support services.
Through the service people can have contact with a variety of skilled and experienced workers including clinicians and people with lived experience of mental ill-health.
Mental Health Minister Stitt said these changes will make it easier for more people to seek out responsive and compassionate support.
“Providing mental health support via telehealth over the weekend will mean people within the Brimbank area can get the support they need when they need it, right in the comfort of their own home,” she said.
Details: betterhealth.vic.gov.au/mhwlocal
