The Rotary Club of Bendigo South is formulating a strategy to aid the department, following an address last week by Associate Professor Philip Tune.

The Bendigo Health psychiatric services director shared an overview of the department’s services and how they fit in with the broader mental health sector.

The club had previously identified mental health as an area of particular interest for fundraising activities this financial year.

Dr Tune said Bendigo Health psychiatric services was typical of most tertiary mental health services in that it saw about 1.1 per cent of the population, and was only one of a number of organisations involved in the sector.

He said the majority of mental health consultations – about 80 per cent – were handled by GPs. 

Community health centres, the NDIS, and private practitioners were also active in the sector.

Dr Tune said people with uncommon and serious conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder and crisis presentations comprised the core patient cohort for Bendigo Health psychiatric services.

He said most of the department’s work was community-based, while 30 per cent involved inpatients.

The health care group’s service area spans 300 kilometres from top to bottom and 200 kilometres at its widest point.

Dr Tune said Bendigo Health had 120 inpatient and residential psychiatric services beds, consisting of an acute adult unit; an older persons unit; a parent infant unit; an extended care unit; an eight-bed dual diagnosis unit; and a 12-bed community care unit.

Bendigo Health also runs two, 10-bed prevention and recovery care units – one for adults, and one for young people aged 16-24 years.

It offers community services such as the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, the Emergency Crisis Assessment Team, and experts assisting police.

Community-based services are also provided in five other centres in the region: Castlemaine, Maryborough, Kyneton, Echuca and Swan Hill.

Dr Tune compiled a wish list at the club’s request, including a massage chair for the parent-infant unit, a brain training machine for the older persons unit, and exercise equipment for the adult acute unit.

“Anything they wish to donate would be appreciated by staff and parents,” he said.

Rotary Club of Bendigo South president Rod Spitty said Dr Tune’s speech was appreciated by the club’s members.

“It surprised everyone just how diverse mental health is,” he said.