A lifting mechanism is disclosed for a bed deck having a top surface where a user may lie thereon and a bottom surface. The bed deck is rotatably mounted to a bed platform having a recessed storage area. The bed deck can be moved from a horizontal to a non-horizontal position. The lifting mechanism is at least partially disposed in the recessed storage area and includes a torsion bar having a first end and a second end; a cam follower rigidly mounted to the torsion bar proximal to the first end; an anchor arm rigidly mounted to the torsion bar proximal to the second end; a mechanism for mounting the torsion bar with the bed platform; and a cam mounted to the bottom surface of the bed deck.