Residents in Muswellbrook, Scone and Singleton can now access free mental health care from the new Muswellbrook Medicare Mental Health Centre.
The new centre provides a safe and welcoming place for adults to access mental health information, support and care delivered by a multidisciplinary team.
The Muswellbrook Mental Health Centre is located at 5/160 Bridge Street, Muswellbrook and will provide outreach services to people in the Upper Hunter.
Locals can access help 7 days a week without needing a referral or making an appointment.
The centre provides immediate support and follow up care to people in crisis as well as short to medium term care for people with moderate to severe mental health needs.
It is the 11th Medicare Mental Health Centre of 22 due to open across the state.
In the budget the Albanese Government has invested an additional $29.9 million to boost the clinical capability of the Medicare Mental Health Centre network to provide access to psychologists and psychiatrists on call.
The Australian Government and New South Wales Government have jointly provided $3.4 million to the Hunter New England and Central Coast Primary Health Network to commission the service, which is operated by Social Futures.
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister McBride:
"This new centre means that people in the Upper Hunter can access free mental health support and care closer to home.
"Improving mental health services in regional Australia is a high priority for the Albanese Government.
"Our network of 61 Medicare Mental Health Centres offers people access to free, walk-in mental health care and support, close to home."
Quotes attributable to Dan Repacholi, Member for Hunter:
"This new Medicare Mental Health Centre is a welcome addition to the health care services available in our community.
"Regional communities like the Hunter need and deserve expanded mental health services to meet need.
"This new centre will fill gaps in services available locally and work to reduce the impact of mental ill-health in our community."
Quotes attributable to Minister Jackson:
"The New South Wales Government is pleased to jointly fund this Medicare Mental Health Centre.
"It will make a huge difference to the people of Muswellbrook, Singleton and Scone.
"I encourage anyone needing mental health support to visit the new centre."
