By Esther Lauaki
Mental health service providers are being proactive in their efforts to improve patient support.
Mercy Health, which includes Werribee Mercy Hospital, will receive $2.8 million in state funding over two years to treat and care for people with a significant disability who can not yet access the NDIS, or are not eligible.
In partnership with mental health service provider Breakthru, the hospital will be delivering psychosocial support to people with a severe mental illness.
Breakthru chief executive Paul Stiff said the funding was “extremely important”.
“The NDIS had got many gaps and people with mental illness are falling through the gaps quite severely,” Mr Stiff said.
He said the service would work in “innovative ways”.
“We will be going to the people that need the support rather than having them come to us,” Mr Stiff said.
“We will also be working with people in homelessness to reduce the mental health impact as well.”
Mental Health Minister Martin Foley said the state government was taking action to make sure Wyndham patients don’t fall through the cracks.
“We will not sit back while Victorians living with serious mental illness … are made to wait,” Mr Foley said at a visit to Werribee Mercy Hospital last week.
