• Blogs
  • What to expect from our private mental health care

What to expect from our private mental health care

30 July 2021

Blog
Mental health
St John of God Health Care private mental health hospitals offer a range of inpatient programs to help develop your capacity to manage your mental health challenges, including your mood and any associated behaviours, explains clinical psychologist, Dr Benjamin Wilkes.

Our mission during your participation in our programs is to care for, support and nurture your return to health and wellbeing.

During your inpatient stay we work with you to help you:

With practical skills to improve your mood and general wellbeing
feel more confident in managing distress
set meaningful goals for your recovery 
communicate effectively in different types of relationships

In addition, you can expect to learn more about your current experience, reflect on what led to you coming into hospital and prepare and practice a range of strategies to help you respond to everyday situations when you return home. 

Our mental health inpatient programs are trauma informed, understanding that experience of past events can have a direct negative impact on your present. 

We acknowledge that providing a safe and inclusive environment is essential.

Who will care for you?

You will experience holistic, multidisciplinary care during your stay from a range of expert caregivers which includes a psychiatrist, physicians, nurses, psychologists, social workers, chaplains, dietitians and pharmacists. We work with you, your family and your personal support network at your discretion, to achieve your health goals.

What to expect

Your three-week inpatient program will be tailored to meet your needs. You can expect to cover and explore a range of psychoeducational topics. Your goals are planned together with our multidisciplinary teams, and you are provided the opportunity to discover skills relevant to your experiences and needs.

We have provided the below overview which explains what to expect throughout your stay with us.

St John of God Burwood Hospital patient journey

St John of God Burwood Hospital patient journey

St John of God Burwood Hospital patient journey

St John of God Burwood Hospital patient journey

St John of God Burwood Hospital patient journey

St John of God Burwood Hospital patient journey

St John of God Burwood Hospital patient journey

Benjamin Wilkes
Benjamin Wilkes - Director of Allied Health and Programs

Ben is the Director of Allied Health and Programs at St John of God Burwood and Richmond hospitals.

He is an experienced clinical psychologist and supervisor, with specific experience in leading the design of collaborative care systems, processes and programs.  He has considerable expertise in addiction, completing a doctoral thesis focussed on the impact of electronic gambling machines on physiology.