Residents in Adelaide's northern suburbs will have greater access to specialist mental health support with the opening of a new $22 million Crisis Stabilisation Centre next to Lyell McEwin Hospital.
The 16-bed facility, located within the Playford Health Precinct, will operate around the clock, providing short-term, intensive support for people experiencing a mental health crisis who do not require acute hospital care.
People will be able to stay for up to three nights while receiving care from a team of doctors, nurses, allied health professionals and lived experience practitioners.
The centre's opening responds to growing demand for mental health services. More than one in five Australians aged between 16 and 85 experienced a mental disorder in the past year, while almost 43 per cent have experienced a mental disorder at some stage in their lives.
Mental health presentations to emergency departments in the Northern Adelaide Local Health Network (NALHN) have risen by 12 per cent over the past 12 months.
NALHN Chief Executive Officer Karen Puvogel said the centre would offer support in a purpose-built environment.
"The opening of the Crisis Stabilisation Centre means more people in the northern suburbs experiencing non-acute mental health issues can access a suite of supports in a comfortable, welcoming environment sooner," Ms Puvogel said.
Managed by not-for-profit health and wellbeing organisation Sonder, the centre will be known as Nakurrinthi, a Kaurna word meaning "to see each other".
It has been designed in consultation with people who have lived experience of mental health crises and features counselling rooms, a family lounge and shared social spaces intended to create a calm, home-like setting.
Sonder chief executive Sageran Naidoo said when people were in mental health distress, the way support is delivered can make an "enormous difference".
"The Crisis Stabilisation Centre (Nakurrinthi) has been designed around people, providing a calm, welcoming and compassionate alternative for people who need more intensive support during a period of mental health crisis, but do not require acute hospital care," Mr Naidoo said.
He said the centre's name reflected the experience staff hoped to create for those seeking help.
"The name Nakurrinthi, meaning 'to see each other', reflects what we want people to experience when they come through the doors – to feel seen, heard and supported with dignity and respect," Mr Naidoo said.
Referrals will initially be accepted from NALHN-operated services and the Northern Adelaide Medicare Mental Health Centre, with broader referral pathways expected to be introduced over time.
