People receiving inpatient mental health care are to be supported to move back to everyday living through a newly refurbished mental health unit in Canberra’s north.
Minister for Mental Health, Emma Davidson said the Gawanggal unit, located at the former Brian Hennessy Rehabilitation Centre site, was named by Ngunnawal Elders and would accommodate up to 10 patients.
“Gawanggal supports Canberrans, 18-65, who are experiencing severe or enduring mental illness transition down from the Dhulwa Mental Health Unit rehabilitation program back into their community,” Ms Davidson said.
“Gawanggal will support Canberrans with underlying mental health conditions to safely transition out of rehabilitation accommodation back into their community,” she said.
“[It] will give people who are undergoing medium to long-term inpatient treatment a supported environment to develop their daily living skills and build independence for independent living.”
Ms Davidson said several patients had already moved into the unit, which opened at the beginning of the month, to progress their rehabilitation journey.
“For some people, the activities of day-to-day life such as shopping, cooking and managing their finances can be challenging and that’s where this accommodation will make a difference,” the Minister said.
“It will ease the transition from a rehabilitation setting to the demands of daily life outside of Gawanggal,” she said.
