Sitting by the bedside of a loved one who is suffering from mental illness is something Tasmanian mother Debbie O'Neill has experienced many times.
Several members of her family have previously received treatment at the Spencer Clinic at the North West Regional Hospital (NWRH) in Burnie.
Mrs O'Neill says when a family member is sick, she visits them everyday, if not twice a day for support.
"Without family, I don't think you could survive, it's just horrible," she said.
"If the supports are not there, then they're not going to recover, they're not going to get better."
But some vulnerable Tasmanians are going to have to struggle with not having family and friends close at hand.
The two mental health units in the state's north and north-west — Northside mental health unit at the Launceston General Hospital (LGH) and the Spencer Clinic at NWRH — are not taking new admissions due to COVID-19 outbreaks.
Seven staff and one patient have tested positive at the Spencer clinic and two patients have tested positive at Northside.
The Department of Health said those requiring admission for acute mental illness will be transferred to the Mental Health Inpatient Unit at the Royal Hobart Hospital (RHH).
Patients requiring general hospital admission can still be admitted through the NWRH and LGH emergency departments respectively.
Mrs O'Neill said the government should have been more prepared for COVID-19 outbreaks in health care settings.
"You've got to be there for them, and being in Hobart, and the way the petrol prices are, you can't be there for them.
"You can't just go there every day because then you've got to find accommodation where you can stay, and it's just ridiculous," she said.
"If they have to go to Hobart then they have no support."
Department of Health deputy secretary Dale Webster said both facilities in northern Tasmania were continuing to operate and provide high-quality care to patients.
"Patients in the north and north-west in need of mental health care can continue to attend the facilities where they will be triaged, assessed and treated on site as required," he said.
"These measures are in line with the department's established protocols implemented at times of surge demand or operational pressures.
But Health and Community Services Union Tasmania industrial manager Robbie Moore said the closure to new admissions was "very alarming".
"The reality is that the hospital system has had over a year to plan for such a situation and to not have a situation in place where we're able to place patients who need mental health beds is simply unsatisfactory for the community," he said.
"To see a situation where both the Spencer Clinic and Northside are not taking patients is simply unacceptable for the community and shows the lack of planning.
"There should have been a contingency put in place to ensure that people who need mental health treatment in the north of the state can get it."
Support network 'essential'
Families from the north-west of Tasmania will have to drive over four hours to visit their loved ones who are admitted to Royal Hobart Hospital due to mental illness.
Mr Moore said a support network for people with mental illness was essential.
"So, for them to be transferred to the other end of the state, hours away, where often family and friends cannot see them, is detrimental to their health outcome and is really letting down half of Tasmania," he said.
"Staff are very concerned that there hasn't been a back-up plan to be able to place people in beds who need them now.
"To have a situation where we don't have any available beds and that you would have to go to Hobart, is not what people with mental health need."
The Department of Health said outbreak management teams at both facilities would continue to monitor their respective outbreaks and reopen to new admissions when safe and appropriate to do so in the near future.
Mental Health Council of Tasmania chief executive Connie Digolis said the closure would be as short as it possibly could be.
"While it might not be ideal as a temporary arrangement, most especially for people who may need to travel, the priority should be that they are actually able to access the support and the professional support they need."
