Canberra’s mental health system has been expanded with the opening of the Territory’s first community space to support people with mental health concerns.
Announced by the Minister for Mental Health, Emma Davidson, Safe Haven in Belconnen is to provide support for Canberrans experiencing emotional distress, mental health concerns, isolation or loneliness.
“The Safe Haven space will mean more access to mental health support in the community in a non-clinical environment,” Ms Davidson said.
“It will support people before they reach crisis point and offer an important alternative to the Emergency Department,” she said.
“I’m really excited about the Safe Haven’s focus on a peer worker model, to provide a familiar, understanding ear to people who may be going through a challenging time and need to talk through their emotional or mental health distress.”
Ms Davidson said people could visit Safe Haven to speak with peer workers who would be able to offer them support in managing their distress.
The Minister said the new service was not just for people with mental health conditions, but was available to all Canberrans aged 16 and over, including people in caring roles “who may be facing some challenges and additional stress in their lives”.
“It’s important that people have access to services and environments which best support their needs,” she said.
“The Safe Haven space will play an important role supporting people before they reach a crisis point.”
Ms Davidson said the Safe Haven 12-month pilot model was developed using a comprehensive co-design approach that resulted in a service which provided a strengths-focused recovery framework.
She said the new service had a strong human-centred approach and had been guided by people with lived experience, peak mental health organisations, carers, community representatives and emergency department clinicians.
Ms Davidson said Safe Haven at the Belconnen Community Health Centre was being run by Stride and would initially be open from 4.30pm to 9pm, Tuesday to Saturday.
