Eastern Melbourne PHN (EMPHN) is funding Mentis Assist $1.3 million to deliver a new Mental Health Stepped Care Model in Melbourne’s outer-east over one year starting July 2018.
Federal Member for Deakin, Michael Sukkar MP, said the initiative will fund Mentis Assist to provide mental health services across the continuum – for people requiring low intensity to higher levels of support.
“Millions of Australian are effected by mental health issues every year and the Turnbull Government is investing in services such as this with an emphasis on recovery, to improve outcomes for people both directly and indirectly impacted,” he said.
EMPHN CEO, Robin Whyte, said the service is especially for people who live or work in Maroondah, Knox or the Yarra Ranges and are experiencing disadvantage.
“Around 40 percent of the community in which we work will experience a mental health issue at some time in their life and many more will be indirectly impacted,” she said.
Mentis Assist CEO, Terry Palioportas, said the organisation has a long history as a service provider on the Mornington Peninsula and south-eastern areas of 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.
Referrals to the service can be made by anyone including GPs and other health providers, schools, social services, other organisations, or people will be able to refer themselves.
Developed in line with mental health reform across Australia, the model utilises counsellors, psychologists, social workers, mental health nurses and peer workers, as well as innovative eHealth technology.
The service provides group therapy, psychological intervention and care coordination, working closely with a person’s GP to ensure their overall health and wellbeing is managed.
The service will be accessible from four main sites throughout the outer eastern suburbs including Ringwood, Healesville, Boronia and Knox, with additional satellite sites available across the region.
Referrals to the model will be available via Mentis Assist or EMPHN’s Referral and Access Team from July.
This initiative is supported by funding from the Australian Government under the PHN program.
www.emphn.org.au/mh-steppedcare
Media enquiries: Claire James, EMPHN Marketing and Communications Manager, claire.james@emphn.org.au 0425 887 397.
Eastern Melbourne PHN is a Primary Health Network funded by the Australian Government to improve the care and support people receive from health services. We aim to improve the health of our community by ensuring people receive the right care, in the right place, at the right time. www.emphn.org.au