Community mental health services in focus in ACT Budget

Funding in the ACT 2024–25 Budget will help Canberrans access mental health help earlier and more easily.

The initiatives funded aim to support Canberrans to remain healthy in the community.

This will help services provide support when and where people need it and reduce demand on the ACT hospital system.

Funding has been allocated over the next four years for:

1. the continuation of the second Police, Ambulance, and Clinician Early Response (PACER) team to provide acute mental health assessment and care services in the community
2. the co-design of a new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth mental health service
3. the continuation of community child and youth mental health support programs, including
   1. MindMap Online Navigation Portal
   2. WOKE
   3. Stepping Stones
   4. Youth Mental Health Promotion program
4. staged implementation of approximately 10 accommodation support packages as part of the introduction of the Housing and Accommodation Support Initiative
5. delivery of a more holistic approach in the Step-Up-Step Down at-home program, to better address the factors in someone’s life which cause distress
6. additional funding for the Detention Exit Community Outreach program to provide transitional mental health and life skills support for people with a mental illness returning to the community.

When people have early access to mental health support, they are more likely to stay healthy, engaged and connected.

This funding will help ensure the continuation of services that currently support Canberrans facing mental health challenges, allowing them to get the help they need in the community, rather than in hospital.

The investment in tailored youth mental services and culturally responsive mental health services for First Nations people will help bolster the health and wellbeing of those in crisis.

The PACER model, particularly, has proven very successful in addressing mental health crises, offering faster assessments, connecting individuals with vital community resources, and reducing the strain on emergency response teams.

This not only helps those who need it most but also helps ensure a safer, more supportive Canberra.

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