Bringing mental health change to the national table
1 Nov 2021
With that short sentence, St John of God Murdoch Hospital’s Mental Health Deputy Director of Nursing Monica Taylor captures not only why she was excited to join the hospital but also summarises what St John of God Health Care’s focus on mental health aims to achieve.
Monica, who was also recently appointed as Vice President of Australian College of Mental Health Nurses (ACMHN), said after a career spent in mental health nursing, clinical and project leadership and hospital administration she was well aware of the needs of the community and the opportunity for change in the mental health sector.
“On a micro level I am excited by the opportunity to build a mental health service south of the river in Perth,” she said.
“In particular, services for young people delivered at their earliest point, which will have a life-long impact on patients and their families.
“Looking beyond that, enabled by St John of God Health Care’s mental health strategy, I see an opportunity to change the whole platform by giving people access to the services they need, a choice of where, how and when to access that care and connection with ongoing mental health support beyond the hospital.”
Now holding the role as Vice President of Australian College of Mental Health Nurses (ACMHN), in addition to Chair of the WA Branch of ACMHN, Monica said she was excited to bring the developments in WA to the attention of the rest of the country.
Monica was the most recent appointment to join the team leading the hospital’s mental health services alongside Mental Health Lead Dr Chinar Goel and Deputy Mental Health Lead Dr Stefan Schutte.
The service will start offering day programs within the next six months, while construction of the stand-alone $45 million 72-bed mental health facility gets underway with completion due in late 2023.
Day programs will help patients with anxiety, depression, self-esteem, anger management and positive psychology.
Dr Chinar Goel said the services will help meet a fundamental need in the community.
“Our services will offer a dedicated contemporary specialist youth and adolescent program as well as services for adults experiencing mental health disorders,” she said.
“It will be the first private mental health service offered south of the river, and eventually the largest facility in the state to provide inpatient services for WA’s youth.”
The new mental health facility is the first step in the next phase of development at St John of God Murdoch Hospital, with additional operating theatres and beds coming on line next.
St John of God Health Care is a major provider of mental health services across Western Australia, Victoria and New South Wales and plans to expand these services nationally to meet growing community need.
Did you know?
St John of God Health Care is a major mental health provider. We operate three specialist mental health hospitals in New South Wales and Victoria - St John of God Richmond and Burwood Hospitals and St John of God Pinelodge Clinic; provide a comprehensive public service including adult mental health at St John of God Midland Hospital; and operate a specialist older adult ward on behalf of the state government at St John of God Mt Lawley Hospital.
We also provide accommodation services to people with mental health issues in Sydney; offer free community mental health services at seven locations across Australia; operate publicly funded drug and alcohol counselling services; and provide free counselling and psychiatric services for families experiencing perinatal depression at 17 locations across Australia through St John of God Social Outreach.