New mental health stepped care service now taking direct referrals - Banyule, Nillumbik, Whittlesea, Mitchell and Murrindindi

New mental health stepped care service now taking direct referrals - Banyule, Nillumbik, Whittlesea, Mitchell and Murrindindi

09 May, 2018

A new mental health stepped care service for people of all ages living or working in north-east Melbourne is now accepting referrals from consumers, carers, GPs, schools and other service providers.

The $2.5m LIFT program, funded by the Australian Government through Eastern Melbourne PHN (EMPHN), is delivered by a consortium led by Banyule Community Health at seven sites serving Banyule, Nillumbik, Whittlesea and the southern parts of Mitchell and Murrindindi.

Eastern Melbourne PHN CEO, Robin Whyte, said around 40 percent of our community will experience mental health problems at some time in their life and many more family members and carers will be indirectly impacted.

“LIFT delivers EMPHN’s Mental Health Stepped Care Model to those experiencing disadvantage,” she said.

“The consumer-centred model is tailored to each individual’s needs, has an emphasis on recovery, and is integrated with physical health and social services.

“These mental health services include eHealth, group therapy, psychological interventions and care coordination.”

Banyule Community Health CEO, Mick Geary, said mental health stepped care involves taking a ‘holistic’ or ‘whole of health’ approach to care.

“Mental health issues rarely occur in isolation, so LIFT addresses not only a consumer’s mental health issues, but other needs, such as physical health, alcohol and other drug issues, family and social functioning, and education and employment.

“The service emphasises collaborative care with a care team approach that includes working closely with the person’s GP to ensure their overall wellbeing is managed.”

The service offers a varied workforce including peer support workers, psychologists, mental health nurses, and social workers, with strong links to other allied health and welfare services.

The consortium, which is led by Banyule Community Health, includes healthAbility, NEXUS Primary Health and eHealth provider Cyber Clinic and is funded until mid-2019.

Watch EMPHN’s Mental Health Stepped Care Model video online www.emphn.org.au/mh-steppedcare

To find out more, contact: