By Mikayla van Loon
Lilydale has been marked as one of the next suburbs to open a Mental Health and Wellbeing Local.
The State government initiative saw six clinics open in 2022, with a further nine announced in early October, including the outer eastern suburb clinic.
The clinics will be a partnership between Wellways Australia, Inspiro, Eastern Health and Oonah Belonging Place to deliver a ‘front door’ service to people over the age of 26 living with a mental health condition or addiction.
As the first Local to be established in the eastern suburbs, Eastern Health Mental Health Program Director Kristen Stanner said it will provide access to support closer to home for Yarra Ranges residents.
“Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals support Victorian adults to get mental health and wellbeing treatment, care and support closer to where they live,” she said.
“Services provided are free and will include a range of clinical, psychosocial, peer support, and other services to the community.”
The free, drop-in service is designed to be an alternative to hospital based care and an extension to what people can receive for their doctor.
“Locals are designed to deliver integrated mental health and wellbeing treatment, care and support for people aged 26 years and over, who need more support than they can get from their general practitioner or other private practitioner, such as a psychologist, and who do not need the type of treatment and support offered from hospital-based services, such as those provided by Eastern Health,” Ms Stanner said.
As a long-established consortium of partners, Ms Stanner said working alongside Oonah, Wellways and Inspiro will support “the ongoing transformation of mental health services delivery”.
“The Local will provide a welcoming ‘front door’ to mental health and wellbeing treatment and care, and support engagement of consumers, carers and families, as well as creating meaningful improvements for individual’s mental health and overall wellbeing,” she said.
“Importantly, Oonah has unique access and connection to Yarra Ranges’ Indigenous communities and will enable support to consumers who do not typically benefit from mainstream services.”
Wellways CEO Laura Collister said it is through community-led and local partnerships that the Yarra Ranges will be given a “a holistic and individual approach” as the state looks to reenvisaged the delivery of mental health services.
“Reforming Victoria’s mental health system is not something we shy away from but is only possible through united and collaborative partnerships that are committed to the vision of a sector underpinned by human rights and led by the voices of lived experience,” she said.
Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals were a recommendation from the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System to establish up to 60 Local services, with 50 due to be set up by 2026 under a promise from the Victorian government.
“The Royal Commission showed us that there can be a number of barriers hindering people’s access to the mental health system – that is why the Locals are a critically important ‘front door’ to getting them the help they need,” mental health minister Ingrid Stitt said.
“The providers are incredibly experienced, with teams of highly qualified mental health professionals who understand the importance of this initial support in reducing the need for more acute care in the future.”
Monbulk MP Daniela De Martino said the Local will be a “welcome addition” to the region to ensure people are given the help and support they need “to live their best life”.
“It’s great to know that mental health care for people in the Dandenong Ranges and the Yarra Valley will soon be available in our own backyard,” she said.
“Community-focused mental health care means residents can access life-changing services right here, right now.”
The Local in Lilydale will provide in-person, telehealth and outreach services, as well as care plans which can involve a patient’s family and friends should they wish.
