In eight decades of life, a retired public servant has had periods of stress, but she had always been able to handle it.
And then her mum, a former primary school teacher, died at 104 years old.
"Everything happened at the one time," Patricia, who asked her last name be withheld, said.
"I experienced deep emotions of distress and anxiety and depression, and there were other emotional problems I had too, and it put me in a bad spot."
She had never heard of Canberra's first private inpatient mental health facility, Deakin Private Hospital, until her general practitioner recommended a stay.
After three weeks, Patricia was well enough to be discharged but the care did not stop there. She continues to have home visits from a nurse, attend day programs each week, and has been continuing to see her treating psychiatrist as a private outpatient.
This is not an unusual model of care in the public system, but hospital owners say it is unique for a private health insurance-funded service.
Since opening in 2023, more than 1300 people have received mental health treatment at the 52-bed Deakin Private Hospital, which almost feels like a health retreat, with olive green walls, a sensory room and leafy courtyards.
In addition to sound baths, yoga lessons and art therapy, there are six psychiatrists on the books, many of whom also have private rooms in the same building. Patients can attend mental health lectures and see a psychologist one-on-one. Service animals are welcome.
The hospital is a partnership between Aurora Healthcare, owned by Chinese company Luye Group, and Amplar Health, which is owned by Medibank.
According to Medibank Chief Medical Officer Andrew Wilson, this wraparound care is part of the reason Deakin private has a low readmission rate compared to other mental health hospitals.
The hospital also caters for patients with less serious concerns that are not as likely to require readmission compared to those in public hospitals.
"It's a different cohort. Typically people with depression, anxiety, often with associated drug and alcohol problems, whereas in the public sector it's much more patients with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, typically," Dr Wilson said.
He said while Deakin private patients have shorter hospital stays, they are given follow-up care in person and virtually once they leave.
"Historically ... private mental health has been very hospital-centric. People come in for a period of time, typically a three-week period, it's not that flexible," Dr Wilson said.
"That's very much a model that's been practised in the in the public sector in mental health for many, many years ... but in the private system, it typically hasn't been provided by hospitals or funded by private health insurers.
"This isn't the only place doing it in the country but it's something that we believe needs to be promulgated and expanded and become really the model of care across the whole country.
"What we want to see is the private sector, for the patients that are able to be admitted, which is largely those with private health insurance, that they get the same integrated community and hospital-focused care that is available ... in the public sector."
Deakin private was originally built to have a youth wing, but struggled to find psychiatrists specialised in treating young people. It has since used that ward for serving and veterans.
Dr Wilson said medical staff like psychiatrists were more likely to work for the hospital when it provides continuous care for patients.
"The idea that you look after a patient holistically, not just within the hospital walls but at home and in the community, and as part of a team, is very much what people are looking for in terms of workforce and we're seeing that in terms of attracting psychiatrists," he said.
Only one in five mental health overnight stays in 2024-25 were in private hospitals, and the average length of stay was 19 days.
Fourteen per cent of mental health patients in public and private hospitals are readmitted to hospital within 28 days, and the average stay is about 14 days.
In comparison, 94 per cent of patients at Deakin private spend about 15 days in hospital and the average yearly readmission rate is nearly half, at 7.5 per cent.
Experts consider a readmission to hospital within 28 days of leaving a sign a person did not get the care they needed after they were discharged.
Chinese-owned Aurora Healthcare has had financial issues in recent years and closed down Mackay Private Hospital on June 19, 2026.
