A $122 million live-in facility for adults with complex mental health issues has opened on the Gold Coast.
The Secure Mental Health Rehabilitation Unit (SMHRU), at the Gold Coast University Hospital, has 40 beds and provides patients with specialist care, closer to home.
Queensland Health Minister Tim Nicholls said the SMHRU, which was developed in collaboration with people with lived experience and staff, would open in a staged approach and welcome its first patients from mid-March.
“The arrival of the Gold Coast Secure Mental Health Rehabilitation Unit comes at a crucial time with demand for services rising,” Minister Nicholls said.
“The Gold Coast facility, which aims to provides tailored mental health care to support patients in their smooth reintegration into the community, is a big step forward in helping to meet the growing demand for mental health care across the state,” he said.
“This facility increases the total number of beds in Queensland while offering a more modern and supportive environment for patients, staff and their families.”
Gold Coast Health’s Clinical Director for Mental Health and Specialist Services Dr Sandeep Chand said the new secure unit offered a welcoming environment where natural light, secure outdoor spaces and a home-like atmosphere came together to promote healing and comfort.
“Recovery from mental health challenges takes time, just like recovering from a physical injury,” Dr Chand said.
“What sets the SMHRU apart is its design and model of care specifically developed to address a critical gap in long-term rehabilitative mental health care, where our team will provide dedicated support for individuals living with severe and complex mental health conditions such as schizophrenia.
“Ultimately, the goal of the SMHRU is to provide a space where individuals can heal, recover and rebuild their lives with dignity.”
