Mental Health Short Stay Unit
The Mental Health Short Say Unit (MHSSU) provides a safe environment if you are experiencing a mental health crisis. Admissions are for a maximum of 48 hours and may be voluntary or involuntary.
The MHSSU contains six beds and is located adjacent to the emergency department at the Canberra Hospital.
Accessing the service
You may be admitted to this unit if you come to the emergency department and may be experiencing a mental health crisis. We will generally admit you if health professionals need more time to assess your condition.
Visiting hours
Monday to Friday: 12.30pm – 1.30pm and 4pm – 8pm.
Contact details
02 5124 0000 - Canberra Hospital
02 6174 5670 - Canberra Hospital, Building 3
Adult Mental Health Unit
The Adult Mental Health Unit (AMHU) provides a safe and supportive environment if you are receiving care for acute mental illness or disorder. The unit provides short term individualised care which supports you to safely return back to your community.
Located at the Canberra Hospital, the purpose built facility contains 37 beds and offers a range of amenities including individual rooms, a gymnasium and spiritual room.
Accessing the service
You may be admitted to this unit if you come to the emergency department and may be experiencing a mental health crisis. We will generally admit you if health professionals need more time to assess your condition.
Admission to the unit may be voluntary or involuntary.
Visiting hours
Monday to Friday: 12.30pm – 1.30pm and 4pm – 8pm
Weekends and public holidays: 9am – 8pm
Contact details
02 5124 0000 - Canberra Hospital or
02 6174 5454 - Canberra Hospital, Building 25
Adult Mental Health Rehabilitation Unit
The Adult Mental Health Rehabilitation Unit (AMHRU) is a specialist mental health rehabilitation unit located at the University of Canberra Hospital. The unit provides care and support for people with a primary diagnosis of mental illness who require a longer hospital stay between 3 and 12 months to complete a rehabilitation program.
AMHRU provides care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The unit provides individual and group therapy and support designed to enhance your quality of life and improve your capacity to live in the community.
Accessing the service
You need a referral to access AMHRU. Referrals are accepted for people already receiving treatment through mental health services in the ACT and who have an allocated mental health Clinical Manager or through your GP. Detailed clinical information will be required as part of the referral process.
There is no financial cost to people staying at AMHRU.
Contact details
University Canberra Hospital, 20 Guraguma Street Bruce ACT 2617
02 5124 0220
Adult Mental Health Day Service
The Adult Mental Health Day Service (AMHDS) is a free day program that helps people in their mental health recovery journey. There are a variety of programs available if you are experiencing moderate or severe mental illness. Each program is designed to enhance your quality of life and improve your capacity to live in the community. These programs include:
- psycho education
- living skills program
- individual psychotherapy
- group psychotherapy.
Accessing the service
Referrals for this service are only accepted for people currently receiving treatment from Mental Health teams in the ACT.
Contact details
02 5124 0150
University Canberra Hospital, 20 Guraguma Street Bruce ACT 2617
Dhulwa Secure Mental Health Unit
Dhulwa is a secure forensic mental health unit located adjacent to a nature reserve in Symonston. The unit provides 24 hour care for patients in a secure, structured and safe environment. The facility includes both acute and rehabilitation mental health programs.
People are generally admitted to the unit from the criminal justice system under the Mental Health Act 2015. A small group of people may be admitted from other mental health services under the Mental Health Act 2015.
Visitor information
You must make an appointment to visit a patient at Dhulwa. Visitors are required to provide 100 points of identification and must register on the biometric security system before entering the unit for the first time.
Contact details
02 5124 1851
30 Mugga Lane, Symonston ACT 2609
Extended Care Unit
The Extended Care Unit is located within the Brian Hennessy Rehabilitation Centre on the grounds of Calvary Hospital, Bruce.
The unit provides medium term, residential care for people with complex and long lasting mental health issues. Treatment and care is provided in a safe but homely environment with access to occupational, vocational and recreational facilities. The unit helps patients to transition from more secure mental health settings into the community.
Visitor information
Monday to Friday: 3pm - 5pm and 6pm - 8pm
Saturday and Sunday: 10am - 8pm
Mental Health Consultation Liaison
The Mental Health Consultation Liaison Service (MHCL) provides mental health services to patients at the Canberra Hospital. These services are delivered by a multidisciplinary team made up of doctors and other health professionals.
This team performs specialist mental health assessments and provides treatment to hospital patients on medical wards. They work with other medical staff who are caring for you to make sure all parts of your care work well together.
The team responds to referrals from medical/surgical, obstetric wards and the emergency department. The role of the team is to provide a timely response to referrals and to provide access for people to mental health services.
Accessing the service
All people seen by the team are done so on a referral basis from clinicians at the Canberra Hospital. People referred to the MHCL must be under the care and treatment of an existing Canberra Hospital treating team.
Contact details
02 5124 0000 - Canberra Hospital
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service Hospital Liaison Team
The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) Hospital Liaison Team provide assessment from 8.30am – 5pm, 7 days a week for young people presenting in crisis to the Canberra Hospital emergency department (ED).
CAMHS Hospital Liaison Team clinicians provide an initial consultation and face-to-face assessment in conjunction with the ED treating team.
Accessing the service
All people seen by the team are done so on a referral basis from clinicians at the Canberra Hospital. People referred to the team must be under the care and treatment of an existing Canberra Hospital treating team.
Contact details
02 5124 0000 - Canberra Hospital
Calvary Mental Health Consultation Liaison Service
The Mental Health Consultation Liaison Service provides mental health services to patients at Calvary Hospital. These services are delivered by a multidisciplinary team made up of doctors and other health professionals.
This team performs specialist mental health assessments and provides treatment to hospital patients. They work with other medical staff who are caring for you to make sure all parts of your care work well together.
Accessing the service
All people seen by the team are done so on a referral basis from clinicians at the Calvary Hospital. People referred to the team must be under the care and treatment of an existing Calvary Hospital treating team.
Contact details
02 6201 6020
Assertive Community Outreach Service
The Assertive Community Outreach Service (ACOS) supports people who are 18 or older, who have been diagnosed with a mental illness such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder or bipolar disorder whom:
- have not had much improvement from previous mental health treatments
- have had to stay in hospital often or for a long time because of a mental illness
- need extra support because of homelessness, drug and alcohol issues, history of trauma, and/or legal issues
- have had difficulty connecting with mental health services in the past
- would benefit from frequent and intensive mental health follow-up in the community.
Accessing the services
To be referred, you must already be registered with mental health services in the ACT. Your mental health clinical manager may refer you to this program if they believe it is right for you. If you are new to the service contact Access Mental Health on 1800 629 354 or 02 6205 1065 to discuss the options available to you.
Contact
Access Mental Health - 1800 629 354 or 02 6205 1065
CAMHS Adolescent Mobile Outreach Service
The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) Adolescent Mobile Outreach Service provides intensive mobile outreach for adolescents aged 13 – 18 years with a moderate to severe mental illness who experience barriers to accessing mainstream mental health services.
Accessing the service
Referral to CAMHS Adolescent Mobile Outreach Service is through the CAMHS Community (North and South) Teams.
Contact details
CAMHS North: 02 5124 1407
Belconnen Community Centre, 56 Lathlain Street Belconnen
CAMHS South: 02 6205 1469
Callam Offices, Easty Street, Woden
Home Assessment and Acute Response Team
The Home Assessment and Acute Response Team (HAART) offer a free service to all residents of the ACT who are experiencing an acute exacerbation of a mental illness and/or severe psychological or emotional distress. HAART provides home based mental health crisis assessment, short term treatment and support, and referral pathways for ongoing hospital and community care.
Accessing the services
Referrals to HAART are accepted through Access Mental Health.
Contact
Phone: 1800 629 354 (free call except from mobiles)
Phone: 02 6205 1065
Specialist Youth Mental Health Outreach Team
The Specialist Youth Mental Health Outreach Team provides care to young people aged 14-25 who are experiencing early onset psychosis or are at a high risk of developing psychosis.
Accessing the service
You can contact CAMHS Community Teams who can refer you to the Specialist Youth Mental Health Outreach Team, as appropriate.
Contact details
02 5124 1469
Access Mental Health can be contacted for young people aged 18-25 and who can refer to Specialist Youth Mental Health Outreach, as appropriate.
Contact details
1800 629 354 or 02 6205 1065
Callam Offices, Easty Street, Woden
