What is community-managed mental health ?
The community-managed mental health sector
When people hear the term ‘mental healthcare’, they usually think about clinical services—psychologists and psychiatrists—or perhaps about acute hospital care.
However, two-thirds of Canberra’s mental health services are delivered by the community-managed mental health sector. This sector supports people with mental health conditions to live well in our community and meet everyday challenges when and where they need it most.
The community-managed sector is a vibrant, creative place which adapts to the unique needs of individuals, families, and communities. These needs might range from crisis to ongoing recovery support, housing, employment and social connection. It comprises Canberra’s soup kitchens, child care centres, domestic violence shelters, health services for marginalised groups and more.
This sector provides services and programs to help prevent people from spiralling into mental health crisis and picks them up after they have been in acute situations to help them heal over their recovery journey.
Our sector helps keep people with mental health challenges out of our over-stretched hospital system and is a cost-effective approach to treatment and care.