Short stay unit supports people in mental health crisis

The new Nujum Jawa Crisis Stabilisation Unit provides a safe and therapeutic space for people experiencing mental health distress

The new Nujum Jawa Crisis Stabilisation Unit at TPCH provides people experiencing a mental health crisis with a safe and therapeutic space away from the busy emergency department to receive specialist care and support.

This unit provides a dedicated 24/7 therapeutic space for individuals aged 16 years or older and aims to reduce the risk of harm and further escalation in a person’s mental health crisis.

Nujum Jawa Project Manager Louise Durant said the new facility would significantly improve access to frontline acute mental health services for Metro North consumers.

“Emergency departments can be busy, noisy places at times and can be overwhelming for people in mental health distress,” she said.

“Having a responsive mental health service makes it more likely that people will seek the help they need sooner and reduce their risk of potential harm.

“A person presenting to Nujum Jawa will be seen quickly by a specialist in mental health care and support will be provided by a multidisciplinary team, including those with lived mental health experience.”

Nujum Jawa’s crisis stabilisation unit (up to 23 hours) provides targeted and effective care in a comfortable setting to resolve crisis symptoms. Access is provided to a range of support services in community, such as social services, peer support services and counselling.

The short-stay unit (up to 72 hours) multidisciplinary team provides evidence-based, intensive and specialist care. This holistic approach to resolving mental health crisis supports people through a program of tailored brief interventions specifically designed to manage the crisis, meet individual needs, and support longer-term recovery.

In its first three months of operation, around nine consumers presented to Nujum Jawa each day, with an average length-of-treatment of almost seven hours.

Nujum Jawa has also contributed to a 2.5-hour reduction in length-of-stay in the emergency department for people presenting to mental health teams.