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Category: Law, Crime and Justice / Mental Health / Building and Construction

Secure mental health facility weeks from completion

Thursday, 18 Aug 2016 13:49:12 | Elizabeth Byrne

The planned design for Canberra's new secure mental health facility. (Supplied.)

A new secure mental health facility at Symonston has been named Dulwa, which is the Ngunnawal word for honeysuckle, during a preview of the new building today.

Ngunnawal leader Roslyn Brown said honey was a natural healer and she hoped the centre would have a healing environment.

Most areas of the facility are still being built, but a completed cell was on display, along with outlined areas for gardens and courtyards.

Building is expected to end within weeks, and the facility will be gradually opened over the next year.

'A very, very important missing link'

Visiting the site today with Ms Brown and other Ngunnawal Elders, ACT Attorney-General Simon Corbell said the 25-bed facility would accommodate acute cases as well as those ready for rehabilitation.

Corbell with Ngunnawal Elders Photo: Ngunnawal Elders and Simon Corbell at the site of Dulwa. (ABC News: Elizabeth Byrne)

"The project that you see here is a very, very important missing link in both our health and criminal justice systems here in the ACT," he said.

"For a long time we have been missing the capacity to accommodate people with serious mental health problems who have been engaged in the criminal justice system.

"We have had to accommodate people with serious mental health concerns in facilities that really weren't purpose-built to care for them and to support them."

Ms Brown welcomed the "open" design of the facility.

"There's a very high need in my community for a facility like this," she said.

"People shouldn't be punished for having mental health problems.

"It's about caring and healing and good quality support for people that need it the most.

"It's so open and it's not dark and sad, which would just add to depression."

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