Wimmera residents are calling for a mental health facility in Horsham, so people can access mental health services closer to home.
Experts say the Wimmera region has some of the worst mental health illness and suicide rates in the state, but has no inpatient facility and limited services.
Experts want further investment in the region to build a mental health system that meets the community's needs.
Since 2022, Stacey Kelly has regularly taken a five-hour round trip on public transport to access mental health treatment and services in Ballarat.
Horsham Rural City Council is pushing for the local mental health facility to operate 24 hours a day.
Cr Klowss said about 400 people from the Wimmera were admitted or transported to Ballarat Hospital annually for mental health-related issues.
Mental Health Victoria chief executive Phillipa Thomas said some areas across the Wimmera had "really stark" rates of mental health distress and illness, which were disproportionately higher than the rest of the state.
Data from a Western Victorian Primary Health Network report last year showed rates of emergency department presentations for mental health and behavioural disorders for Horsham were 2.15 times higher than Victoria's average.
Member for Lowan and shadow minister for mental health Emma Kealy agreed there was a "huge gap" in mental health services in the Grampians and Wimmera region.
A spokesperson for Grampians Health said there were now no plans for a 24/7 inpatient mental health facility in Horsham.
A Victorian government spokesperson said people in the region could already connect with crisis assessment, treatments and other supports through the Grampians Mental Health and Wellbeing service.