Strong demand for unique mental health and substance dependency day programs

Demand for The Banyans Healthcare Group’s substance dependency and mental health day programs has exceeded expectations by 300% in the first two months of operation.
 

Of the patients receiving treatment at The Banyans Health Plus, which opened in September in Brisbane’s Bowen Hills, two-thirds of the patients were seeking treatment for substance dependency, with the remaining third split between eating disorders and dual diagnosis programs (treatment for two or more concerns).
 

Of the patients, 82% are female and 18% are male.
 

Chief Executive Officer Ruth Limkin said the results were surprising but were viewed as an indication of the extreme stress many people have experienced over the past 18 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
 

“The fact that demand for our new day program services is so much stronger than forecast is clearly linked to the pandemic,” Ms Limkin said.
 

“We obviously recognised the need in our community for this type of unique one-on-one treatment, but even we were startled at the level of demand we experienced from the minute we opened our doors.
 

“While it is a sad reflection of what is happening in our world today, we are pleased that we are able to be a part of the solution through our new facilities.”
 

The Banyans Healthcare Group opened The Banyans Health Plus day program centre as well as The Banyans Medical Centre and The Banyans Specialist Clinics in response to growing enquiries through its private residential rehabilitation centre that has operated on Brisbane’s northside since mid-2016.
 

Tying the three businesses together is The Banyans Healthcare Group’s own nutritionist-run café, Wholesome & Bean, which was a very deliberate inclusion in this medical precinct and provides nutritious meals to patients of The Banyans Health Plus as well as the general public.
 

The new businesses, which will be formally opened tonight, expand The Banyans Healthcare Group’s vision to provide premium medical care at all stages of the mental health and substance dependency recovery journey, and also add general medical treatment to its services. 
 

“Our patients are now able to receive treatment for all their health needs from their first point of contact with their GP through to comprehensive, integrated treatment for mental health and substance dependency conditions at Health Plus or at our Residence,” Ms Limkin said.
 

“Once our patients have finished their Health Plus or residential programs, they will now be able to access follow up treatment, if needed, at The Banyans Medical Centre and Specialist Clinics with doctors who already know them well and that they trust.”
 

The Banyans Health Plus offers four multidisciplinary Integrated Day Programs – Mental Health, Substance Dependency, Eating Disorders, and Dual Diagnosis – in a one-on-one, multidisciplinary treatment model that also includes time to attend to work matters in between sessions and with meals provided by Wholesome & Bean.
 

Ms Limkin said the day programs were developed to provide a revolutionary, one-on-one model of care that provided patients with convenience, comfort, and confidentiality.
 

“There is no group therapy at The Banyans Health Plus,” she said. “This makes us unique when compared with other community day programs and we believe it yields the best patient outcomes with our patients more inclined to speak freely to the members of their treating team.”
 

The organisation’s flagship business, The Banyans Health and Wellness’ nine-bed private residence, has provided treatment and support to more than 200 individuals and their families since opening in mid-2016. 
 

Internal research has shown residents have achieved an average improvement of 74% in their dependency measures after completion of a program at The Banyans.