And it’s about time.
In some astoundingly brilliant news from the Barwon Health team, people in the Geelong region will soon be able to access mental health services from a central location in the heart of Geelong, thanks to a $16-milion investment from the State Government.
Taking over the office space at 181 Moorabool Street, the new five-story Mental Health Hub marks a new direction in how Barwon Health care for people in the community experiencing mental ill-health and addiction – further supporting their recovery journey.
The key takeaways
- The State Government is investing $16 to deliver a new Mental Health and Addiction Hub in Geelong
- The hub will provide greater access to treatment and support services for those that need it
- Located on Moorabool Street, construction is due to be completed in 2022
Keep up with the latest in local news via our website.
A collaboration between Barwon Health, and Up Property and Gartland Property with financial aid from the State Government, this central facility will provide greater access to treatment and support services for those in Geelong.
Mental Health, Drugs and Alcohol clinical director Associate Professor Steve Moylan said the new hub’s ground floor would be a welcoming space for anyone to seek immediate support and care.
Prof Moylan said the space would be a fresh and identifiable place people could come to seek treatment that was not the emergency department, easing pressure on the hard-working emergency department.
As well as providing a welcoming space, the hub will offer services including assessment, navigation, care planning, treatment, wellbeing support and education, making it easier for people to access help when it’s needed.
The hub will consolidate existing services onto one site and provide extended operating hours including over the weekend and public holidays. Working from a contemporary, fit-for-purpose and safe facility, clinicians will provide telephone, online, walk-in, at-home and outreach services.
The hub will also include space for clinicians and researchers to come together and drive mental health service improvement through a learning health care system.
Construction will get underway this month and is on track to be completed in late 2022.
You can read more about it via Barwon Health.
If you’re feeling down, there’s plenty of free resources and organisations that can help, and if you need help right now, it is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, anywhere in Australia.
In an emergency, call 000.
Lifeline
Contact Lifeline for support if you are experiencing a personal crisis or have suicidal thoughts. You can call them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from anywhere in Australia.
Lifeline 24-hour crisis line is 131 114
The Lifeline Text is also available from 6pm to midnight (AEST) on 0477 13 11 14
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Beyond Blue Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service
Beyond Blue are providing information, advice and strategies to help you manage your wellbeing and mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
You can reach them via 1800 512 348 or live chat.
QLife
QLife is Australia’s first nationally-oriented counselling and referral service for people of diverse sex, genders and sexualities. QLife provides nation-wide, early intervention, peer supported telephone and web based services to support lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people of all ages.
Call 1800 184 527 (3pm – 12am (midnight) every day) or chat online to QLife.
Kids Helpline
Kids Helpline provides a free, private and confidential phone and online counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25. The service is available 24 hours a day from anywhere in Australia.
Call 1800 551 800 if you need to chat.
headspace
Online and telephone support service that helps young people who don’t feel ready to attend a headspace centre or who prefer to talk about their problems via online chat, email or on the phone. The website also has information and services to support a young person going through a tough time.
1800 650 890
The National Coronavirus Helpline
Trained mental health professionals are available to talk to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, via phone, webchat and email, and can help you with anything related to Coronavirus.
Phone 1800 020 080
Suicide Call Back Service
Call the Suicide Call Back Service for immediate, professional 24/7 telephone and online counselling to people who are affected by suicide.
Call 1300 659 467 if you need help.
Reach Out
ReachOut Forums is a supportive, safe and anonymous space where people care about what’s happening for you, because they’ve been there too. The website is also there to help figure things out and make life better, offering information and other resources designed specifically for young people.
1800 RESPECT
Wherever you are in Australia, you can call 1800 RESPECT for confidential information, counselling and support on sexual assault, domestic or family violence and abuse.
You can call 24-hours a day on 1800 737 732.
MensLine Australia
MensLine Australia is a national support, information and referral service for men across Australia, specialising in family and relationship concerns. MensLine Australia provides 24/7 telephone counselling, online chat and video counselling. This is complemented by a comprehensive website with information, resources and an online forum.
Counsellors provide confidential, professional, and male-friendly support.
Call 1300 78 99 78 (24 hours a day) or chat online and over video to MensLine
PANDA
PANDA supports women and their families who are suffering from perinatal anxiety or depression, and can provide advice and assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Reach them on 1300 306 726.
Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National)
TIS National is for people who do not speak English and for agencies and businesses that need to communicate with their non-English speaking clients.
Call 131 450
Care Leavers Australasia Network (CLAN)
CLAN offers support to people who have grown up in Orphanages, Children’s Homes, Missions and Foster Care in Australia and New Zealand, or whose parents or other family members had this experience.
Call on 1800 008 774
