{
  "id": 8770935,
  "title": "Calls grow for mental health service in Victorian town 'left out of the mix'",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/20/calls-grow-for-mental-health-service-in-victorian-town-left-out-of",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-20T21:05:43.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-21/wimmera-residents-call-for-mental-health-facility/107137544"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Residents of the Wimmera region are demanding a mental health facility in Horsham, as many struggle to access mental health services closer to home. Studies indicate that the Wimmera region has some of the highest mental health illness and suicide rates in the state, yet it lacks an inpatient facility and limited services. The region's largest population hub, Horsham, serves as the primary referral point, yet there is no local inpatient unit. Stacey Kelly, a Horsham mother of three, frequently travels five hours via public transport to receive mental health treatment in Ballarat due to the lack of services in her home area. Kelly's condition, depression, anxiety, and depressive psychosis, cannot be treated within the Wimmera region. Mental Health Victoria reports that certain Wimmera areas face exceptionally high rates of mental health distress and illness, which are disproportionately higher than the rest of the state. Crisis assessment, treatments, and support services are available through the Grampians Mental Health and Wellbeing service, but a 24/7 inpatient mental health facility in Horsham has not been planned.",
  "summary": "Since 2022, Stacey Kelly has regularly taken a five-hour round trip on public transport to access mental health treatment and services in Ballarat, yet the Wimmera region where she lives has some of the highest rates of mental health illness and suicide in Victoria.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}