Medicare Mental Health Check In offers online programs for early mental health concerns
Health professionals can connect patients experiencing stress, worry, low mood or sleep difficulties with Medicare Mental Health Check In, a free Australian Government digital mental health service.
The service is for people aged 16 years and over who live in Australia and are experiencing mild mental health concerns. Medicare Mental HealthCheck In provides structured online programs that participants can complete independently or with support from a qualified Medicare Mental Health practitioner via telehealth.
Medicare Mental Health Check In is designed for people requiring low intensity support for mental health concerns, ranking within levels 1 and 2 of the Initial Assessment and Referral Decision Support Tool (IAR-DST) framework.
Medicare Mental Health Check In delivers free, low-intensity cognitive behavioural therapy
Medicare Mental Health Check In delivers free, low-intensity cognitive behavioural therapy (LiCBT). This is a brief, structured and guided self-help form of cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), designed for people experiencing mild symptoms of anxiety, depression, stress and related concerns.
CBT examines the connections between a person’s thoughts, behaviours, physical sensations and emotions. It helps people understand how these areas influence each other and develop practical ways to change unhelpful patterns. CBT is widely researched and is also recommended as a front-line approach in Australian clinical guidelines for anxiety and depressive disorders.
LiCBT adapts these principles into shorter, structured programs delivered through digital tools, exercises and worksheets. Participants may learn strategies to manage worry, approach situations they have been avoiding, establish helpful routines and break problems into manageable steps.
Watch as Dr Walid Jammal, GP, explains the service in this video from the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.
Six programs are available through a secure online portal
Participants can access six programs through Check In's secure online portal:
Sleeping better
Improving mood
Managing worries
Facing fears
Reframing unhelpful thoughts
Solving problems more effectively
Each program takes about six weeks to complete. Participants can choose a self-guided pathway or receive brief, regular telehealth support from a qualified mental health practitioner. People using the self-guided pathway can also request practitioner support during the program if they would prefer additional support.
How to connect your patients with Medicare Mental Health Check In
Health professionals can discuss Medicare Mental Health Check In with patients who may benefit from low-intensity digital support and direct them to the Medicare Mental Health Check In website.
Access to a Check In program starts by calling the Medicare Mental Health phone service on 1800 595 212. Local phone service support is available from 8.30 am to 5 pm on weekdays, excluding public holidays.
Phone service staff will discuss the person’s needs, determine whether Check In is suitable and help identify another support option if required.
General practitioners and other referring practitioners using participating practice software can also submit a HealthLink SmartForm eReferral to Medicare Mental Health services. The eReferral provides a secure and instantly trackable pathway for patient assessment, referral and service navigation delivered by Medicare Mental Health.