New state of the art Mental Health centre nears completion

Chief Minister and Minister for Health, Katy Gallagher, today had the opportunity to see how the $26 million Adult Mental Health Unit will look once construction is complete in about a month.

The Chief Minister toured the sample room for a sneak preview of what the Unit will look like when it opens.

"This state of the art facility will be a centre of excellence for the provision of mental health care and significantly improve the environment for people needing mental health care," the Chief Minister said.

"The completion of the sample room provides staff of the new mental health unit, as well as consumers and carers who have been involved with the design of the project, with an opportunity to view the room and provide comments prior to the commissioning of the Unit.

"The sample room clearly shows just how fantastic this new facility will be with purpose built spaces, landscaped gardens, private areas and communal spaces. This new centre is a significant improvement on the current Psychiatric Services Unit at the Canberra Hospital," the Chief Minister said.

"I am really pleased to see the openspace to the west and south which provide gardens, a sports court, amphitheatre, and a walking track for people who are staying at the Unit and their friends and family who may visit them.

"This has been a large project to deliver and I would particularly like to thank the consumers, carers and staff who have put so much effort into getting this building right so that it meets the needs of our community into the future" the Chief Minister concluded.

The building was designed following broad consultation with staff, consumers and carers on a detailed model of care for adult acute mental health inpatient services. Throughout the forward planning and development of the design there has been extensive input from consumer and carer groups and staff.