A new mental health facility has opened in western Melbourne as authorities scramble to service the region’s booming population.

The 21-bed Sunshine Clinic Private Hospital in St Albans has replaced the Sunshine Private Hospital, which entered voluntary administration last year after just 14 months of operation.

Assoc Prof Mahesh Jayaram, Dr Rajiv Siotia and Joy Schaffner outside the new Sunshine Clinic. Credit: Jason South

Sunshine Clinic chief executive Joy Schaffner said the mental health service on Furlong Road was needed as the Brimbank municipality lacked a similarly specialised private provider.

The two closest were in Werribee and Essendon , she said, while the nearby public hospital focused on more acute mental crises.

“One of the biggest challenges we face is the

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