New mental health stepped care service starts in Melbourne’s inner-east

New mental health stepped care service starts in Melbourne’s inner-east

31 January, 2019

A new Mental Health Stepped Care service providing a range of support, from low level to more intensive services, is now available in Melbourne’s inner-east.

EMPHN funded Access Health and Community, and its Connect4Health partners: Carrington Health and Link Health and Community to deliver the new Steps Mental Health service.

Federal Member for Kooyong, Josh Frydenberg MP, said millions of Australians are affected by mental health issues every year.

“The Coalition Government is investing in services such as this with an emphasis on recovery to improve mental health and overall wellbeing for our community,” he said.

EMPHN CEO, Robin Whyte, said mental health is one of the most common presentations to general practice in our community and our Mental Health Stepped Care model keeps people at the centre of care, supported by GPs and a range of service providers involved in an individual’s care. 

“In December we also launched a new service the Psychiatric Advice and Consultation Service, staffed by psychiatrists, that provides specialist psychiatric consultation and advice to GPs and our commissioned mental health and AOD service providers.

“These services provide better connected healthcare for people in our community and a vital link with general practice, the cornerstone of our healthcare system.

Access Health and Community CEO Dr. Harry Majewski, said the new Mental Health Stepped Care service is an important and much needed addition to mental health services in inner-east Melbourne.

“Mental health issues rarely occur in isolation, so the service takes a ‘whole of person approach’ to consider other physical health, alcohol and other drug, family and social functioning issues, as well as education and employment needs,” he said.

Mental Health Stepped Care Service:

  • The service is free for people of all ages who are not able to afford or access similar services and live, work or study in Boroondara, Manningham, Monash and Whitehorse.
  • Referrals to the service can be made by anyone, including GPs and other health providers, schools, social services, other organisations, family members or people can directly refer themselves.
  • The service model is delivered by psychologists, social workers, mental health nurses, mental health support workers and peer support workers (people with a lived experience of mental illness and recovery).
  • The service provides group therapy, psychological therapy and counselling, peer support, mental health nursing and care coordination, working closely with a person’s GP and support network to ensure their overall health and wellbeing is managed.
  • The service will be accessible from Box Hill, Doncaster East, Glen Waverley and Hawthorn, at the main health centres of Access Health and Community, Carrington Health and Link Health and Community.
  • Developed in line with mental health reform across Australia, which Australian Government funded Primary Health Networks are implementing, the service is the third and final area in EMPHN’s catchment to transition to Mental Health Stepped Care. The new locations in Melbourne’s east and inner-east now ensure good service availability for the community.
  • People can self-refer or be referred by a health care professional. To refer, contact Access Health and Community on 1800 378 377 www.stepsmentalhealth.org.au.

Psychiatric Advice and Consultation Service

These services are funded by the Australian Government under the PHN program.

Media enquiries: Kate Watson kate.watson@emphn.org.au 0409 361 341.