The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) is deeply concerned about the closure of cohealth services in Victoria’s Collingwood, Fitzroy and Kensington suburbs, citing chronic underinvestment and a broken funding model.

RANZCP President Dr Astha Tomar said patients, their families, carers and clinicians have been abandoned as a result, calling the closures a major step backward for Victoria.

People experiencing severe mental illness, substance addiction, homelessness, family violence and other complex challenges, who relied on cohealth’s integrated model of care combining health and social support, are now left in limbo.

“Community mental health services continue to be starved of resources, even as demand surges. This is despite the Royal Commission’s scathing 2021 review of a system in crisis and failing patients,” Dr Tomar said.

“Victorians are doing their part. They’ve raised close to a billion dollars each year through the mental health and wellbeing levy, placed their trust in governments, and delivered a clear mandate: the system must not turn its back on those who need it. It must be funded and resourced to care for its people.”

“When people with complex mental health needs lose access to primary care in their community, the impact is felt across the system, especially in emergency departments. It also erodes the confidence people place in their leaders to ensure help is available when they need it most.”

“GPs and psychiatrists alike will tell you: the way mental health services in this country are funded is fundamentally flawed. It doesn’t reflect the gravity or complexity of demand on the ground.

“It’s time we take a hard look at how the system is failing both those who depend on it for their wellbeing and those who serve in it,” Dr Tomar said.

Dr Tomar urged all levels of government to work together to ensure community mental health services like cohealth remain available, accessible, adequately resourced and equipped to support Victorians.

“And while those discussions continue, we must not lose sight of the immediate challenge: supporting affected patients and ensuring they continue to receive care that is both affordable and accessible,” Dr Tomar said.

For media inquiries, please contact: Dishi Gahlowt on +61 437 315 911 or email media@ranzcp.org 

For all other expert mental health information visit Your Health in Mind, the RANZCP’s consumer health information website.

The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists is a membership organisation that prepares medical specialists in the field of psychiatry, supports and enhances clinical practice, advocates for people affected by mental illness and advises governments and other groups on mental health care. For information about our work, our members or our history, visit www.ranzcp.org.

In Australia: If you or someone you know needs help, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or www.lifeline.org.au or the Suicide Callback Service on 1300 659 467 or www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au.

In New Zealand: If you or someone you know needs help, contact Lifeline NZ on 0800 543 354 or www.lifeline.org.nz or the Suicide Crisis Helpline on 0508 828 865 or www.lifeline.org.nz/suicide-prevention.