That's the judgement of Albury upholsterer Paul Summerfield, who has been appalled by the state of Nolan House.

Recently he has made daily visits to a relative at the in-patient centre which is attached to Albury hospital.

"Ideally they need to redesign and build a new unit which is designed to help mental health patients recovering," Mr Summerfield said.

"The unit as it is at the moment is more like an old-fashioned asylum and it can't help anyone get better."

Mr Summerfield is concerned that having patients with different ages and conditions in a bleak environment is not aiding the improvement of sufferers.

"They're mixing patients with complex drug issues with people with complex mental health issues not brought on with drugs," Mr Summerfield said.

"There's a lot of swearing and often the people in there with drug and alcohol issues can be very intimidating to the other patients.

"The garden outside is disgusting, it's not a like a garden at all, it's more like a prison yard with a big wall.

"The state of the building gives you a feeling of depression, there's rundown chairs with dry cracking vinyl, drab walls with no pictures and paintings.

"The only exercise machine is a broken down exercise bike."

Angered at what he saw, Mr Summerfield took to Facebook last week, posting photographs of Nolan House and sharing complaint letters to Border politicians Greg Aplin and Sussan Ley.

"Mr Aplin and Ms Ley, this place has been neglected on your watch, right under your noses," Mr Summerfield wrote on Facebook.

"I beg you to visit this place, talk to its staff, the patients and their families about how we can change this place into a mind healing facility, not an old fashioned institution."

Mr Summerfield said his stance, which coincides with Mental Health Month, had drawn support, with direct messages from former Nolan House patients who shared his concerns.

He does not want to scare patients from getting help nor criticise staff in any way, but he believes there is a need to champion changes after having dealings with Nolan House for 20 years through his relative.

"It needs advocacy, the rest of the hospital has advocates," Mr Summerfield said.

"In the children's ward the parents advocate for it and in patients’ wards the patients can advocate.

"In Nolan House we're dealing with fragile and broken people and some of them have been abandoned by their family and friends.

"Without a family that kicks up a fuss than no-one is going to do anything about it.

"I am not an expert.

"I am a tradesman who has a year 10 level of education.

"However, Blind Freddy can go into that place and see what the issues are."