A NEW mental health service centre will open in Bendigo later this year.
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The city is one of eight regional areas to receive the centres.
The state government announced on Tuesday a $22 million mental health package to deliver fast-tracked and tailored care to those who need it the most.
More than $13 million of that will be spent on 20 pop-up clinics across the state, including the one in Bendigo.
Deputy Premier James Merlino said about 90 clinicians would provide 93,000 additional hours of wellbeing checks and counselling to thousands of people.
The pop-up centres will open progressively from the end of September across Melbourne and regional Victoria, with a dedicated triage and referral hotline and website to be established in the coming days for people to start booking appointments.
Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations will receive $4 million to support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are less likely to engage early with mainstream mental health services.
An investment of $1 million will expand Triple P parenting programs, to help more than 20,000 families whose children are experiencing anxiety.
Another $1.2 millions will boost the capacity of peak LGBTIQ+ community organisations including Switchboard, Thorne Harbour Health and Drummond Street Family Services.
Earlier
The Victorian government will open 20 pop-up community mental health services across the state in the wake of the latest COVID-19 lockdowns.
It comes as regional Victoria recorded three new cases of COVID-19 overnight.
Deputy Premier James Merlino announced a $22.1 million package of additional mental health support on Tuesday.
He said $13.3 million would be used to set up 20 pop-up community mental health services, including eight in regional Victoria.
"Throughout this pandemic over the last 19 months some Victorians have been really struggling," he said.
"Whether that's through isolation, whether it's financial stress, whether it's illness and indeed loss of life or loss of a loved one via COVID, this has been an incredibly difficult, unprecedented time and many Victorians are struggling with their mental health and wellbeing."
Mr Merlino said the pop-up clinics would open progressively from the end of this month.
There will also be a 1300 hotline number and website to provide additional mental health services to those struggling.
The remainder of the funding will be allocated to organisations targeting specific groups, such as Aboriginal-controlled mental health services and the LGBTQIA community.
More to come
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