A walk-in mental health clinic on the edge of Canberra's largest university campus has provided around 18,000 care sessions since it opened about 18 months ago, the federal government says.
The Canberra City Medicare Mental Health Centre, at the edge of the Australian National University's Acton campus, has provided the bulk of the free, walk-in sessions in the capital, while a centre in Tuggeranong has delivered more than 1800 since it opened less than a year ago.
A new specialist children's mental health service providing free care will open in Tuggeranong later this year with Marymead Catholic Care Canberra and Goulburn, Grand Pacific Health and Yerrabi Yurwang Child and Family Aboriginal Corporation appointed to run the centre.
The Medicare Mental Health Kids Hub will be jointly backed by the Commonwealth and ACT governments and provide support for children aged up to 12 years and their families.
The centre is now being fitted out and outreach services will begin in July, the government said.
Meanwhile, two bulk-billing GP clinics will open on Canberra's southside this week with support from a $10.5 million federal government fund to attract more general practitioners to the ACT.
A Coombs practice has begun operating in Phillip before it moves to a permanent home in the Molonglo Valley, and a South Tuggeranong clinic will open in Conder on Tuesday.
The federal Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Emma McBride, said the government knew cost and distance barriers had too often stopped people from seeking help to address their mental health.
"The Tuggeranong Kids Hub is good news for families in Canberra who have a child struggling with their mental health and wellbeing," Ms McBride said.
"Families will be able to get the wraparound care they need - delivered locally and free by a team of experts."
ACT Mental Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith welcomed the appointment of the experienced and trusted consortium to run the new service and said the involvement of Yerrabi Yurwang would ensure it was culturally safe.
"Early intervention can change the trajectory of children's lives. Reducing barriers to access by providing free drop-in and appointment-based services will make a world of difference for children, parents and carers - enabling them to access support when they need it most," Ms Stephen-Smith said.
The federal government has promised $267.3 million in national funding to support 92 Medicare mental health centres across Australia.
In February, Australian health ministers agreed there "was a need for sustained effort to improve the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people" and "noted significant efforts across all jurisdictions to improve policy and programs for children", a communique released after the ministers' meeting said.
