The West Australian government says it has "no formal arrangements" with backpacker hostels to house discharged mental health patients, but confirms some are checked in if they have nowhere else to go.
A Health Department spokesman said WA Health provides several community-based support services across the state for patients, but said they were sometimes discharged into backpacker hostels if family support or low-cost rental accommodation was not available.
"The majority of patients return to the family home or the accommodation they were in prior to admission. If this is not possible, alternative arrangements are made," he said.
Mental health advocate Debora Colvin told AAP patients must be given more stability and support after their discharge, or it could affect their recovery.
