New mental health stepped care service to start in Melbourne's inner-east

New mental health stepped care service to start in Melbourne's inner-east

22 November, 2018

Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network (EMPHN) is funding Access Health and Community, and its Connect4Health partners: Carrington Health and Link Health and Community, to deliver a new Mental Health Stepped Care service in Melbourne’s inner-east from January 2019.

The initiative will provide a range of mental health services for the community, ranging from low level support to more intensive services, with an emphasis on recovery.

EMPHN CEO Robin Whyte, said our Mental Health Stepped Care model keeps people at the centre of care supported by GPs and a range of service providers involved in a person's care.

“People requiring help are also able to refer themselves thereby reducing potential barriers to accessing help,” she said.

Access Health and Community CEO Dr. Harry Majewski, said the new 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.

The service is free for people of all ages who are not able to afford or access similar services and live or work 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.

Developed in line with mental health reform across Australia, the service model is delivered by counsellors, psychologists, social workers, mental health nurses and peer support workers.

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.

Referrals to the service will be available via Access Health and Community or EMPHN’s Referral and Access Team from 14 January 2019.

www.emphn.org.au/mh-steppedcare

Phased Transition

The appointment of Access Health and Community, and its Connect4Health partners marks the third and final phase of EMPHN's transition to Mental Health Stepped Care in its catchment.

  • Banyule Community Health is delivering phase one (Whittlesea, Nillumbik, Banyule and parts of the shires of Mitchell and Murrindindi within the EMPHN catchment) started 15 January 2018.
  • Mentis Assist is delivering phase two (Maroondah, Knox and Yarra Ranges) started 2 July 2018.
  • Access Health and Community, and its Connect4Health partners will deliver phase three (Manningham, Boroondara, Whitehorse and Monash) starting 14 January 2019.

To find out more

Contact EMPHN’s Referral and Access Team 03 9800 1071

The initiative is supported by funding from the Australian Government under the PHN program.