THE ACT government have announced $28 million in funding over the next four years to improve mental health services in Canberra.

The funding will be targeted at eating disorders, early intervention, and child and youth mental health through services, outreach programs, preventive mental health care and facilities.

To support the ACT’s first residential eating disorder centre, $17.3 million will be spent over the next four years.

Community-based residential accommodation will have $4.3 million put towards it, and $2 million will go towards continuing and establishing a range of complementary mental health services for children and young people.

$2.3 million will go towards opening a second Safe Haven facility at Canberra Hospital, and there will be an extension of the second Police, Ambulance and Clinician Early Response (PACER) team for a further nine months.

There is also funding of $204,000 for WOKE – a free 14 week program that empowers young people by teaching skills to manage difficult and distressing emotions – and $445,208 for Stepping Stones in 2023/24, to support youth mental health services.