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Our regular update on mental health services, specialist care, and referral pathways in Canberra.
From the Deakin Private Hospital Team
Welcome to the January edition of In Mind, our regular GP update.
As we begin a new year, I would like to wish you a very happy New Year and hope you have had the opportunity to rest and recharge. On behalf of the team at Deakin Private Hospital, I would like to thank you for your ongoing collaboration and trust in our services. We greatly value the relationships we share with GPs and community clinicians, and the vital role you play in supporting patient care.
We are pleased to share that we currently have inpatient rooms available, with no waitlist, allowing for timely access to care for patients who require admission.
We look forward to continuing to work closely with you throughout 2026, strengthening our partnerships and ensuring your patients have access to high-quality, compassionate mental health care.
Spotlight | Welcoming back Dr Rajeev Kumar!
We are delighted to welcome Dr Rajeev Kumar back to the Deakin Private Hospital team!
Starting in early February, Dr Kumar is accepting referrals for inpatient and outpatient psychiatric care, bringing his deep expertise and compassionate approach back to our service offering.
Dr Kumar is a highly experienced psychiatrist with over 25 years of clinical and academic experience in Australia and overseas.
He holds qualifications including MBBS, MD, DPM, FRANZCP and a PhD, and is widely recognised for his research in neuropsychiatry and neurocognitive disorders.
His clinical interests include the assessment and management of anxiety disorders, depression and psychopharmacology, and he is known for his thoughtful, evidence-based approach to complex mental health presentations.
Referrals for Dr Kumar are open now.
News and Updates
New Inpatient Program | Neurodivergent Skills for young adults aged 18–25 years
We are now offering a two-week Neurodivergent Skills Inpatient Program designed specifically for young adults who identify as neurodivergent or who experience traits consistent with neurodivergence. This structured, low-stimulus inpatient program focuses on skills development, emotional regulation, confidence, and functional independence. Key areas of focus include:
- Emotional and sensory regulation strategies
- Social communication and interpersonal skills
- Functional daily living skills (e.g. routines, organisation, planning)
- Self-understanding, strengths identification, and self-advocacy
The program consists of group-based skills sessions, individual therapeutic check-ins, sensory regulation and grounding activities, practical workshops, psychoeducation and creative therapy sessions.
Referrals and enquiries are welcome, and our admissions team is happy to discuss suitability.
EMDR Therapy at Deakin Private Hospital
We’re pleased to offer EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) — an evidence-based psychotherapy that helps the brain process and resolve distressing experiences.
EMDR therapy is available to both inpatients and outpatients at Deakin Private Hospital.
For outpatients, EMDR is currently offered by Nurse Practitioner, Peter Dexter, with inpatient EMDR provided as part of our broader therapeutic programs. EMDR is widely used to support people experiencing trauma, anxiety, and other emotional or psychological challenges, and can be a powerful option when talk therapy alone hasn’t felt like enough.
If you’d like to learn more or discuss whether EMDR might be suitable for you, our team is here to help.
rTMS Available for Outpatient Appointments
Our clinicians are qualified to deliver Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS), a non-invasive procedure that uses focused magnetic energy to induce small electrical currents in targeted areas of the brain. It is most commonly used in the treatment of depression. This treatment is also available to outpatients.
Sessions are short, well-tolerated, and can help improve mood over several weeks. Referrals can be made through our psychiatrist team, who assess suitability and coordinate care.
Esketamine Therapy available now
Esketamine therapy offers a rapid-acting option for individuals with treatment-resistant depression. Administered as a nasal spray under medical supervision, it works on the brain’s glutamate system—different from traditional antidepressants—often producing mood improvements within hours to days. It can also help reduce suicidal thoughts and is used alongside oral antidepressants for greater effectiveness.
At Deakin Private Hospital, our team provides safe, monitored treatment to support patients with severe depression and improve quality of life.
Upcoming intakes | Day Programs
*Intake dates may be adjusted as required to meet clinical and operational needs.
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