Forensic and secure mental health services provide assessment and treatment of people with mental health issues and are associated, or are at risk of being associated, with the justice system. In the ACT, the mental health services under Justice Health include:
- Inpatient Units
- Dhulwa Mental Health Unit
- Gawanggal Mental Health Unit (previously the Extended Care Unit)
- Forensic Mental Health Service – a specialist service based in the court, custodial, youth detention and community settings. It provides assessment and intervention for people with a mental illness who have or are at risk of committing a criminal offence. Please call 02 5124 1813 for more information. Includes:
- Forensic Community Outreach Service
- Court Assessment and Liaison Service
- Mental Health Services at the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC) and Bimberi Youth Detention Centre (BYDC).
Read about forensic provisions under the ACT Mental Health Act 2015 in this pamphlet.
Assistance with issues in Forensic and Secure Mental Health
The Public Advocate at the ACT Human Rights Commission can provide individual and systemic advocacy services to people with mental health concerns who are in the forensic mental health or justice systems. Carers and family members may raise issues with the Public Advocate to help get advocacy for someone else. More information is available at their page on individual advocacy. Contact them for support on 02 6205 2222 or email hrc@act.gov.au
More assistance:
- Prisoners ACT – to assist prisoners and their families.
- Legal Aid ACT – provides free and low cost legal support to people in the ACT. the Legal Information Helpline is 1300 654 314
- Aboriginal Legal Service NSW/ACT – provides legal support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the ACT. Call 1800 765 767 for police charges and court matters.
- Official Visitors – Official Visitors provide independent oversight of services for people in government facilities. They can help resolve complaints and address systemic issues in services. Official Visitors visit Bimberi (youth detention facility) and residential out-of-home care facilities for children and young people, the Alexander Maconochie Centre (prison) and mental health facilities. There are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Official Visitors available on request. For further information or to arrange a visit, please contact the Official Visitor hotline on 1800 150 036.
Further Information
- Forensic Mental Health Model of Care
- Secure Mental Health Model of Care
- Legal Aid ACT Factsheet on Mental Health Matters