Australia's New South Wales (NSW) Government has offered Western Sydney communities the first glimpse of an integrated mental health complex, which is poised to be the largest facility of its type in the state.

Entailing an investment of A$460m ($306.7m), this complex will be part of the Westmead Health Precinct in Western Sydney.

Member for Parramatta Donna Davis said: “Putting this facility in the heart of the Westmead Health Precinct will make it easier for patients to receive integrated care for both their mental and physical health.”

The new facility will comprise acute mental health beds for youth, adolescents, adults, older persons and those having eating disorders.

Besides, it will house sub and non-acute mental health beds, a mental health assessment area, as well as mental health intensive care and high dependency units. 

The new complex, which will be linked to Westmead Hospital, will also feature education facilities and multidisciplinary ambulatory and outpatient services.

Early works on the project have started and main works are planned to commence next year.

NSW Minister for Mental Health Rose Jackson said: “Western Sydney is the state’s fastest-growing region, and this once-in-a-generation project will be a game changer, giving consumers access to world-class mental health facilities closer to home.

"We’ve designed the new facility hand in hand with people that have lived experience of mental illness to deliver the best care possible in an environment that supports treatment and recovery.”

The mental health complex complements the A$669.8m Statewide Mental Health Infrastructure Program.

It also builds on Western Sydney’s other mental health projects, such as the Blacktown Hospital Acute Mental Health Inpatient Unit and Westmead Mother and Baby Unit.  

Earlier this year, NSW also committed A$8.2m towards the expansion of national charity Lifeline’s telephone, text, and online support services.

This funding to Lifeline, which provides crisis support and suicide prevention services, will be made available over five years.