Mental Health and Wellbeing
Where to find this service
Where to find this service
What we do
At Western Health, we provide mental health and wellbeing services for people living in Melbourne’s western suburbs.
We support people who are experiencing, or at risk of developing, serious mental health conditions. Our care is provided through:
- hospital-based care
- community-based programs
- specialist mental health services
We work with people who are living with a wide range of mental health conditions, including:
- anxiety disorders
- bipolar disorder
- depression
- mood disorders
- personality disorders
- psychosis
- schizophrenia.
We also support:
- people who may be at risk of harming themselves or others
- people living with multiple mental health conditions, including those related to alcohol or drug use.
Our services are recovery-focused and designed to meet the unique needs of each patient. We aim to:
- Provide support as early as possible
- work together with families, carers and community services
- Offer ongoing support to help people live meaningful, healthy lives.
If someone’s life is in danger, or there is an immediate risk of harm, call emergency services on 000.
Services and facilities
• Adult Mental Health Rehabilitation Unit (Unit 5)
Specialised, multidisciplinary inpatient service for individuals with severe and treatment-resistant mental illness. The unit offers psychopharmacological treatment and psychosocial rehabilitation.
• Behavioural Assessment and Specialist Intervention Consultations Service (BASICS)
Supporting individuals living with mental health concerns in residential facilities, staff and families and carers.
• Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Service (CAPS)
Offering specialist mental health assessment and treatment for children, adolescents and their families.
Providing 24-hour recovery-focused rehabilitation in a community residential setting to people who have multiple complex mental health needs.
• Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Service
Providing specialist mental health treatment, care and support for people across several community-based locations in Melbourne’s west.
Psychiatry Service Supporting patients with their mental health and wellbeing while admitted to the Sunshine or Footscray Hospitals for physical health treatment.
• Emergency Mental Health (EMH) Service
Providing immediate, expert care for individuals presenting with acute mental health concerns in Emergency Departments including timely psychiatric assessment, psychosocial evaluation, and initiation of appropriate treatment and support to ensure safety and stabilisation.
• Harvester Private Consulting Suites
A private mental health consulting suite managed by Western Health providing evidence-based mental health services to adults and adolescents.
• HOPE Team (Hospital Outreach Post-Suicidal Engagement)
Targeted support for people at risk of suicide re-attempts post-discharge from Emergency Departments, medical wards or inpatient units.
• Intensive Community Treatment (ICT)
Providing acute mental health treatment to older adults in their home or usual place of residence.
• Older Adult Mental Health Inpatient Units (Unit 4)
20-bed unit providing assessment and treatment for individuals over the age of 65 during acute phase of mental illness
• Perinatal Mental Health Service
Providing assessment, management and ongoing psychological intervention to women receiving maternity care at Western Health, Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s Hospital.
• Prevention and Recovery Care (PARC)
Short-term (up to 4 weeks) mental health recovery and rehabilitation support to those becoming unwell or at risk of relapse.
• Sunshine Mental Health and Wellbeing Centre (Unit 2 and Unit 3)
A 52-bed unit that provides mental health assessment, treatment and care for people who are experiencing mental ill-health.
• Western Inpatient Psychiatric Unit (WIPU)
Adult inpatient unit provides mental health assessment, treatment and care for women experiencing acute phase of mental ill-health.
• Yanna Yanna Women’s Prevention and Recovery Care (WPARC)
Short-term intensive treatment and support in a residential setting for women as a less-restrictive alternative to an acute inpatient admission.
Delivering improved mental health services
From 1 July 2023, Western Health became a newly designated Mental Health and Wellbeing Service. This means we are now responsible for providing mental health care to many people who were previously supported by NorthWestern Mental Health (NWMH), a part of the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
This change occurred following the Royal Commission into Victoria's mental health system and affects people who live in western metropolitan Melbourne.
What has changed?
• You may notice changes to our logos, branding and websites.
• We will keep you and your support network informed if any other changes occur. What has stayed the same?
• Your patient history and medical records have been securely transferred to Western Health, to ensure they are up to date and accurate.
• You can continue to access care through Western Health emergency departments when needed.
Information for health professionals
Access and referrals to current services have not changed. Referrals can only be made via the mental health triage number on 1300 874 243.