Cairns Hospital’s new mental health unit to have a sensory modulation room

A Queensland-first multi-sensory experience for patients is being created as part of Cairns Hospital’s new mental health unit. Find out more.

A Queensland-first multi-sensory experience is being developed as part of the $70m mental health facility at Cairns Hospital and is expected to open in the coming months.

Mental Health clinical director Mike Tervit said Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service had been developing a sensory modulation room for patients as a potential wellness tool.

Developed in collaboration with mental health clinicians and project staff from capital infrastructure, eHealth and ICT under the new Mental Health Unit Redevelopment, the “digital solution” aims to provide an immersive and personalised experience for patients using interactive visual and soundscapes, and will be evaluated over a two-month period.

“The scenes have been developed with different outcomes in mind, such as soothing, engagement and distracting, along with an interactive module with gesture control,” Dr Tervit said.

Cairns Hospital will soon be able to offer patients in their mental health unit a multi-sensory experience to aid in their treatment. Associate clinical director Dr Steve Duffy and peer/lived experience representative Eliza Valentine with the new sensory experience. Picture: Brendan Radke

Soothing lights and gentle scents such as jasmine or white tea can be released into the room, with further plans to introduce a day bed, rocking chair, weighted blankets, bubble tubes and other textural elements to target most senses.

“The creation of this digital solution represents an exciting development for mental health care and has the potential to provide a more immersive sensory experience for patients, which could help them better manage their mental health challenges,” he said.

A modern, culturally appropriate design, family-friendly spaces and contemporary technology were announced to complement the new build, which will consist of 53 beds, including a 10-bed Mental Health Intensive Care Unit.

CHHHS chief executive Leena Singh said the new facility was an important project for the Cairns economy, creating nearly 70 full-time equivalent jobs over the life of the project, and would provide additional capacity and a better environment to help people in their recovery from mental illness.

“I am delighted to announce that our program of works is on schedule, with the new building to be completed and operational in mid-2024,” she said.

Originally published as Cairns Hospital’s new mental health unit to have a sensory modulation room