THE ACT Greens have pledged an extra $35 million to support Canberrans with a mental illness and community-based mental health services. 

The party have also committed to spend an extra $1.9 million to employ four publicly funded dental hygienists in the ACT as part of its plan to improve early intervention and preventative health measures.

Greens health spokeswoman Amanda Bresnan said the party has made mental health a priority area.

“We have already announced funding to establish housing for people with a mental illness requiring high level support, modelled on Home in Queanbeyan,” she says.

“We are committed to continuing this progress on mental health.”

The Greens also promised $300,000 to fund a feasibility study to look at the size, nature and location of a second hospice in the ACT that is publicly owned and managed.

“We know there is and will be an increased demand for palliative care in the future, and believe there is a need for second hospice in Canberra,” Bresnan says.