Have you been directly affected by the bushfires? Here’s how to gain mental health and counselling support

Have you been directly affected by the bushfires? Here’s how to gain mental health and counselling support

22 January, 2020

If you or someone you know has been directly affected by the recent bushfires there are a range of mental health services available to support you. 

Your GP 

Your GP can assist in assessing your mental health support needs, and if you may benefit from a ‘Mental Health Care Plan’. A Mental Health Care Plan entitles you to access Medicare rebated support for mental health concerns for up to 10 individual sessions within a calendar year. With your Mental Health Care Plan, your GP can support you in finding the right registered allied health professionals such as Social Workers, Psychologists and Occupational Therapists for your mental health support needs.   

Please check with your referred allied health professional to determine if you may have any gap fees.  

Mental Health Referral and Access team 

Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network’s Mental Health Referral and Access team helps health professionals and consumers to understand, navigate and access available mental health services in the Inner East, Outer East and North East areas of Melbourne.  

These include services funded by the Australian Government through EMPHN for people who are not able to afford or access similar services elsewhere.  

Email: referral.access@emphn.org.au 

Phone: (03) 9800 1071 

Fax: (03) 8677 9510