Child and adolescent mental health patients can now see specialised clinicians on weekends, after a $1.6 million boost to the Canberra Hospital service.
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ACT Mental Health Minister Shane Rattenbury said the weekend assessment service will complement a new inpatient mental health unit for children and teenagers, planning for which is currently under way.
The service went from five to seven days after after a recent recruitment drive to boost the number of metal health professionals in Canberra.
"Previously someone has gone to the hospital on the weekend and they've been assessed by an adult clinician but they'll now be assessed by someone who specialises in children and adult mental health," Mr Rattenbury said.
"Obviously having this degree of expertise is very valuable in helping families and young people understand their concerns and get the support when they needed it."
The extra $1.6 million investment would be split over the next four years.
Mr Rattenbury said an extra 1.6 full-time equivalent staff would be needed to operate the youth service for the additional two days per week.
The service runs from 8.30am to 5pm and any patients outside those hours would be seen by general mental health clinicians.
"If not admitted and in the community, the young person or their family can contact the Mental Health Triage service on 1800 629 354 for information, advice or support, including access to assessments and interventions provided in the community," Mr Rattenbury said.
"Alternatively they may present to Canberra Hospital emergency department if more urgent assistance is required."
However Mr Rattenbury said psychologist and psychiatrist shortages continued to be a "pressure point" for Canberra's mental health system.
"Right across the country we're seeing a shortage both with psychiatrists and psychologists," Mr Rattenbury said.
"ACT Health has been undertaking an aggressive recruiting program, we've had seven or eight new psychiatrists or psychologists or so, this has certainly filled some gaps but we need to keep recruiting because both with people departing and normal turnover and also with expanding demand for services we need to get more staff into Canberra."
Mr Rattenbury suggested existing campaigns to sell Canberra as a destination could help solve the shortage.
"We need to make sure we make Canberra an attractive place for people to come because it is a competitive market place for people out there at the moment, they can largely choose where they want to go so we need to make sure we not only offer a good working environment but we sell the virtues of Canberra," Mr Rattenbury said.
