Rising demand tests Bendigo Health ED
Bendigo, VIC — as emergency presentations for mental health and other substances rise, frontline staff say the Bendigo Health emergency department (ED) is stretched beyond its design. In a region-wide push for a dedicated solution, health leaders are calling for a separate ED area tailored to people in mental health crisis, alcohol and other drugs treatment, and related conditions.
Warning: This article discusses self-harm and mental health crises.
Brooke, a pseudonym used to protect privacy, describes a deeply challenging experience in Bendigo Health’s ED during a mental health breakdown. “I had my jumper over my head the whole time — just all the hustle and bustle of everything, it was really loud,” she said. “You could hear babies crying, people calling out for help, nurses chatting, and the bright lights. You just don’t want to hear that when you’re in that mood.” Brooke said she attempted to cut herself while waiting in a cubicle, then found relief when moved to a quieter area. “I’d never cut myself before, but at that point in time, I didn’t want to be there.”
Her account underscores a broader pattern: staff and patients alike report that EDs can feel overwhelming for those in acute mental distress. Bendigo Health shows a surge in demand for mental health and drug-related care in the ED, prompting calls for physical and service design changes in the local hospital setting.
The case for a dedicated mental health hub
There are already six emergency department hubs for mental health, alcohol and other drugs across Victoria — five in Melbourne and one in Geelong. Dr Tune, a senior clinician, says these hubs run calmer, more controlled environments and focus on fast-tracking care with trained teams who can administer targeted treatment for acute mental illness.
“The hubs are calmer and they’re more suited to people with acute mental illness,” Dr Tune noted. They also provide a space designed specifically for urgent mental health care, reducing the risk of cross-contamination with other ED presentations and enabling more appropriate privacy and pace for treatment.
Growing pressure on local services
Data from Bendigo Health shows 2,151 patients with mental health and/or drug issues presented to the ED in 2024, up from 1,859 the year prior. So far in 2025, the department has averaged about 46 such presentations per week, with authorities projecting a continuation of rising numbers unless new capacity or redesigned services are implemented.
Emergency Care Assistance Team (ECAT) nurses often care for patients ranging from psychotic episodes to individuals who have harmed themselves or swallowed foreign objects. In busy cubicle areas where privacy is limited, nurses must balance urgent medical needs with the critical importance of mental health assessment and support.
Laurie, a mental health nurse whose surname is withheld to protect privacy, says the everyday reality is complicated by the presence of drugs. “The association of violence and aggression that comes with drugs is a challenge — toward us, toward emergency services, and toward themselves,” he said. “It’s not just people from lower socio-economic areas. I’ve seen business people who have used ice and become totally out of control.”
Urgent calls for more hubs
Health and Community Services Union state secretary Paul Healey, a former mental health nurse, notes Victoria has seen a 5% rise in mental health presentations over the past year. He argues regional Victoria needs more ED hubs to meet demand. “We’ve got an epidemic of anxiety and depression in young people, and we’re not building the services fast enough,” Healey said. “The hubs in Melbourne have about six beds and demand is already outstripping supply, but they’ve been really helpful to get people seen quicker.”
In a government statement, planning work was acknowledged to establish mental health hubs in Bendigo and Shepparton. The Allan Labor government said this aligns with recommendation eight of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System: every region should have at least one ED capable of delivering specialist mental health and alcohol and other drug treatment. Funding has been granted to progress planning for these new hubs.
Voices from the frontline
ECAT nurses Skye and Steve treated a patient last month who had threatened to suicide; the case highlighted the ED’s role in crisis response, often for people in their 40s who had not previously accessed hospital-level mental health care. “The reality is that we’re dealing with complex presentations with overlapping medical and mental health needs,” one nurse said. “A dedicated hub could streamline care and reduce stress for patients and staff alike.”
What Bendigo Health mental health hub could look like
Proposed designs for a Bendigo Health mental health hub emphasize private, quieter spaces with dedicated mental health beds, separate triage to minimize noise and disruptions, and a team trained in crisis intervention and substance-use disorders. The aim is to deliver timely assessment, short-term stabilization, and clear pathways to ongoing care — either within the hospital, through community services, or via secure referral to longer-term treatment programs. The hub would also integrate alcohol and other drug services to support a safe, coordinated response to a broad spectrum of crises.
Looking ahead
With planning underway and government backing on the horizon, Bendigo faces a pivotal moment. A local ED hub could reduce time to care, improve privacy for people in distress, and support staff who are routinely exposed to high-stakes, emotionally taxing situations. The broader Victoria policy framework suggests this is part of a long-term strategy to rebalance emergency services and deliver specialized, regionally appropriate mental health care closer to home.
Conclusion
The call for a Bendigo Health mental health hub reflects both the human stories unfolding in the ED and the policy direction at state level. If realized, the hub could change the daily experience for patients, families, and staff — transforming urgent mental health care from a bottleneck into a more compassionate, efficient pathway toward recovery.
