Home-style mental health facility opened
Premier Colin Barnett opened WA's first home-style mental health facility yesterday in the third major announcement in the portfolio this week.
Joining Mental Health Minister Helen Morton, Mr Barnett said the 22-bed subacute facility in Joondalup was an alternative to hospital admission for people who may have failing mental health.
"Equally as people leave acute care in the hospital, it's a transition back to home, back into the community," he said.
The $5.4 million facility, which will cost $3 million a year to run, is the first of four planned for the State, with the others to be built in Rockingham, Broome and the Goldfields.
Mrs Morton said non-government organisation Neami would help people with their recovery at the centre, providing mental health support for up to 28 days.
The Joondalup mental health announcement came after an election pledge of free public transport for 8500 carers on Tuesday and the unveiling of the Bentley adolescent mental health unit on Wednesday.
