A male detainee has been found after escaping a secure facility that cares for mental health patients involved in the criminal justice system.
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The ACT Health Directorate has launched an investigation to pinpoint how the man was able to flee custody in the presence of trained staff.
It is understood the man escaped from the Dhulwa Mental Health Unit in Symonston on Monday while he was outside the centre on an escorted day trip.
It is not known whether the man has had any involvement with the criminal justice system in the ACT, or whether he was a private client of the centre.
He was found on Thursday and will undergo a medical assessment on Friday morning.
Health sources questioned why it had taken four days for information about his escape to come to light.
"This is not exactly a well-guarded secret within the health system ... that someone has gone missing from the high security facility at Mugga Lane," a source said.
"They weren't back as of Thursday morning. They've basically done a runner."
Staff at the Dhulwa facility declined to talk about the escape when approached on Thursday afternoon.
A spokeswoman for ACT Health said the directorate had worked alongside ACT Policing to track the man down.
"The welfare and safety of this individual and our community is our priority," she said.
"ACT Health and ACT Policing are doing everything we can to locate the individual concerned."
The man, described as a "low risk client" by ACT Health, had been escorted outside the facility on a day trip as part of his treatment.
"As part of the therapeutic program at Dhulwa Mental Health Unit, when low risk clients are engaging well with their treatment program, they are able to be approved for escorted leave from the facility," an ACT Health spokeswoman said.
"It is important to reiterate that clients who are approved for this type of leave are considered of low risk of harm to themselves and the community.
"ACT Health will conduct an internal investigation and review of our procedures for approved escorted leave from the Dhulwa Mental Health Unit."
Opposition health spokeswoman Vicki Dunne said Mental Health Minister Shane Rattenbury needed to front up and explain how the incident had occurred.
"Minister Rattenbury needs to offer a frank explanation on what has happened and what is being done following revelations that a person from a secure mental health hospital has been missing for a number of days," she said.
Dhulwa is a purpose-built facility which is home to people with complex mental health needs who have been involved in the ACT's criminal justice system.
It also houses "civilian consumers who cannot be treated in a less restrictive environment", according to ACT government policy documents.
Staff working inside the 24-hour monitored facility are required to wear "personal duress alarms" and are trained in de-escalation and use of force procedures to combat "violence or aggression".
"The Dhulwa Mental Health Unit aims to support the treatment, care and recovery of consumers with moderate to severe mental illness who are, or are likely, to become involved with the criminal justice system," government policy documents read.
Do you know more? Confidentially get in touch with Steven.Trask@fairfaxmedia.com.au
