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Mind Australia has been named the lead provider of four new Mental Health and Wellbeing Local services that will provide support to the Dandenong, Melton, Bendigo and Echuca regions.

Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals support Victorians aged 26 years and over to get mental health and wellbeing treatment, care and support closer to home. All support is free, voluntary and easy to access, and you do not need a referral from your doctor to access help.

Alongside Mind’s person-centred support services, people in these jurisdictions will be able to access support from key regional health organisations, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health organisations and a variety of other targeted support organisations including LGBTIQA+ support across all regions from Thorne Harbour Health.

Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals adopt a ‘how can we help’ and ‘no wrong door’ approach, to enable more people to access the support they need, including those who have previously been unable to find the right care and/or experienced barriers to accessing services.

Accessible community-based support like this can make all the difference in helping people address problems before they reach crisis point.
Gill Callister – CEO Mind Australia

These services provide an opportunity for transforming current service delivery practices for people experiencing mental illness or psychological distress, including those with co-occurring substance use issues. People with co-occurring mental health and drug and alcohol challenges previously would often receive treatment from separate service providers addressing one issue, rather than receiving integrated care from a single provider.

This new approach is part of the Victorian government’s commitment to rebuilding Victoria’s mental health and wellbeing system.

“The Victorian government is to be commended for acting on the recommendations made in the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System and providing the community with access to fast, free and flexible mental health and wellbeing support,” Mind CEO Gill Callister said.

“Accessible community-based support like this can make all the difference in helping people address problems before they reach crisis point. 

“Mind is proud to be chosen to lead delivery of these four new services in Greater Dandenong, Melton, and the Greater Bendigo-Loddon-Campaspe regions. We will be working with a fantastic region of support organisations so that people in need of mental health and wellbeing support can get the right mix of services to meet their needs.”

Staff at these services will include Mind peer practitioners, who draw on their own lived experience of mental ill-health to inspire and support service users in their recovery journey.

Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals in Greater Dandenong, Melton and the Greater Bendigo-Loddon-Campaspe regions are planned to commence with providing telehealth support, with centre-based services to follow.

For free support in your local area call 1300 375 330 or visit www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/mhwlocal 

If you would like more information about Mind services near you, contact us via Mind Connect or phone: 1300 286 463.

If this article raises concerns for you, please call Lifeline on 13 11 14. Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islanders can also call 13 YARN (13 92 76) a 24/7 national crisis support telephone service staffed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 
If you would like more information, please contact us.

1300 286 463 
[email protected]