Four new Safe Havens and extra perinatal support: ACT Greens' $54 million mental health election policy

The ACT Greens want to establish four new Safe Haven sites across Canberra to improve access to mental health services if they win the upcoming election.

The party’s mental health plan, costed at about $54 million, would build on the Safe Haven model already established in Belconnen by setting up centres in Tuggeranong, Molonglo, Dickson and Gungahlin.

ACT Greens leader Shane Rattenbury said all ideas contained in the plan had been costed and were “capable of being delivered”.

“There’s no way that we can service everybody if they just turn up to the emergency department, so a real emphasis of this program is providing early care at a range of locations,” he said.

“We need to think about this differently. We need to make sure people are getting the sort of services they’re comfortable with so they don’t have to end up calling Triple Zero.”

The policy has estimated that $3.2 million would need to be spent to establish the four centres, with an additional $11.65 million over four years for operational costs.

The mental health walk-in centres would include support from people with lived experience, and clients would be able to remain anonymous.

ACT Greens mental health spokesperson and Murrumbidgee MLA Emma Davidson said it wasn’t just about providing support and treatment for poor mental health but also addressing social issues that could be contributing to a person’s issues.

“Sometimes, it’s not just about clinical mental health services; it’s also about addressing the pressures that are causing that mental distress in the first place,” she said.

“Everyone should have access to affordable mental health care when they need it, not just when they are in crisis.”

The plan would also expand on the PACER model by setting up a residential space for people to be with a trained professional without having to be sent home or sent to a hospital.

This is expected to cost $4.85 million, inclusive of capital works and operational costs over four years.

Other aspects of the policy would see a Distress Brief Intervention trial established, more eating disorder services (including a day program), permanent funding for youth mental health services WOKE and Stepping Stones, the creation of a youth-specific drop-in space for young people at crisis point with their mental health, and a dedicated eating disorder inpatient unit.

The ACT Greens also promise two new centres for perinatal mental health care, including a residential centre for parents who need support outside of their home.

Similar to the Safe Haven model, it would include a perinatal drop-in service for any parent along with a perinatal mental health inpatient unit at the North Canberra Hospital.

It’s expected this support would cost $20.3 million over four years to establish and operate.

ACT Greens MLAs have held the mental health portfolio for the government for almost eight years.

ACT Labor health spokesperson Rachel Stephen-Smith said Canberrans could “judge for themselves” if the responsible ministers had performed well.

“ACT Labor has a proud record of investing in mental health. Every Budget has delivered more funding for mental health services, and we have continued to advocate for the delivery of key commitments to ensure the community has support to access the services they need,” she said.

“Much of the Greens’ package simply continues existing programs and projects. For other elements, it is not clear they take account of the significant investments the Federal Government has put in place, such as walk-in mental health services through Head to Health.”

Ms Stephen-Smith said her party would have more on its mental health election commitments in the coming months.