MENTAL HEALTH NEWS
Ramsay raises awareness during Mental Health Week
Ramsay Health Care encouraged Australians to make mental wellbeing their top priority during Mental Health Week (6–12 October), as the company marked
55 years of providing mental health care in Australia.
Ramsay compiled a list of its five most commonly treated
mental health disorders, to help raise awareness of the
conditions during the week-long campaign.
Mood disorders, including depression and bipolar disorder,
were the most common type of mental health disorders
treated at Ramsay facilities. This was followed by addictions,
anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder and
psychotic disorders.
45 per cent of Australians aged 16 to 85 will experience a
common mental health disorder during their lifetime, which
equates to more than 7 million people.
Ramsay Health Care’s Mental Health Chair, Kevin Cass-Ryall,
said there had been a gradual increase in the number of
older people (65+ years) and younger people (16+ years)
seeking assistance for a mental health condition.
“We know that patients want more specialised treatment
and a more holistic approach to their recovery, along with
a care regime that draws on a multidisciplinary team,”
Mr Cass-Ryall said.
“They are also increasingly looking for ways to receive
treatment outside hospital to remove the need for them to
stay overnight in a clinic. Ramsay is focusing on expanding
in this area as informed by the evidence and best practices,
in response to the needs of consumers and their carers.”
Ramsay has more than 1,000 mental health beds and 23
mental health units across Australia. It aims to provide
nationally accessible, consistently excellent standardised
mental health services with measurable recovery outcomes
for patients and their families.
Beleura Private meets Mornington
demand for mental health and
alcohol addiction services
Construction will soon start on a new purpose-built facility to treat
people with alcohol addiction and mental health disorders in the
Mornington Peninsula.
Beleura Private Hospital will increase its capacity from 32 to 48 beds for the treatment
of patients with mental health issues and alcohol addiction.
Beleura Private Hospital Nurse Unit Manager, Monique Nicolaou, said work was
expected to be completed within 18 months.
Ms Nicolaou said demand for mental health and alcohol addiction services was
on the increase with people coming from as far as South Australia and Queensland
for treatment.
“We are the only private mental health facility with alcohol addiction services in the
Mornington region and we also have medical practitioners from other states referring
their patients to our relapse prevention clinics,” Ms Nicolaou said.
Ms Nicolaou said the alcohol addiction facility treated patients aged from 18 and many
of those with alcohol dependency also had complex mental health issues.
12 The Ramsay Way 2019 | 04
Alcohol and substance patients to
benefit from Hollywood expansion
People with alcohol and substance use challenges will be among those to benefit from
a mental health expansion underway at Hollywood Private Hospital.
The multi-million dollar expansion will deliver
a dedicated mental health day hospital with
an additional 31 inpatient mental health beds
bringing the total number of inpatient mental
health beds at Hollywood to 101.
The expansion is the result of a 60 per cent
increase in mental health admissions over
a five year period at Hollywood.
Hollywood Private Hospital Chief Executive
Officer, Peter Mott, said the expansion would
help increase the hospital’s capacity for a
number of mental health programs, including
its alcohol and substance use program.
The three phased program is comprised of:
• An inpatient stay (optional) of between seven
and 14 days providing participants with the
opportunity to safely withdraw from alcohol under
the supervision of a specialist medical team
• A 12-day intensive alcohol and substance use
program, which explores the factors contributing
to substance use
• An ongoing weekly group follow up support
service.
“Other programs to benefit will include the eating
disorders program and the trauma program, both
which are regarded as being among the best in
the country,” Mr Mott said.
The Hollywood mental health expansion is due
for completion by July 2020.
Ramsay Health Care
has more than
1,000 mental health beds
across 23 facilities
14% Every year
of all adult Australians are
affected by an anxiety disorder
Women are affected
more than men
As many as
1 in 5
expecting or new mums
will experience perinatal
anxiety or depression