Do your patients know about the free Medicare Mental Health phone service?
The national Medicare Mental Health phone service (1800 595 212), funded by the Australian Government, provides callers with a free, confidential first step for advice, guidance and connection to local services.
Health professionals who would like assistance with assessing and triaging the right kind of care for their patients can also call the phone service. Medicare Mental Health staff use the Initial Assessment and Referral (IAR) Decision Support Tool to establish a patient’s level of need and can advise on available services that may assist the patient.
The Medicare Mental Health phone service is free for anyone seeking support and guidance, including family members and carers.
How can the Medicare Mental Health phone service help your patients?
The phone service is free for anyone seeking support and guidance, including family members and carers. The service connects your patients with a trained professional and peer worker that will work with you or your patient directly to understand their situation and needs. Please note, Medicare Mental Health is not a crisis service.
Medicare Mental Health accepts referrals from healthcare professionals and service providers, mental health services, community services, carers, families and individuals. It will support connection with local services that best meets your patient’s needs, including their nearest Medicare Mental Health service, or other trusted mental health providers.
The service takes phone calls between 8:30 am to 5 pm weekdays (excluding public holidays).
Contact the Medicare Mental Health phone service on behalf of patients and clients to find the best mental health and wellbeing support for them by phoning 1800 595 212. The phone service is localised, meaning callers will speak with a local professional who can connect them to support that is nearby.
Learn more about the Medicare Mental Health phone service at www.medicarementalhealth.gov.au/phone-service.
Help your community thrive—Tell your patients about the Medicare Mental Health phone service
Your practice can join the Medicare Mental Health ‘Phone Service National Campaign’ right now by simply promoting the phone service to your patients.
Your practice or health service can help people in your community know about the phone service through having information in your waiting room or treatment rooms.
The campaign aims to increase local awareness and understanding of the Medicare Mental Health phone service as a calm, confidential first step for advice, guidance, and connection to services.
Information posters are freely available for download and printing.
Why is promoting this service so important?
The campaign aims to improve access to mental health services for everyone, because everyone experiences mental health concerns at some point in their lifetime.
The data shows that younger people, men, First Nations communities, people living with disability, multicultural communities, as well as rural and remote communities have historically faced barriers to accessing mental health support and guidance. By helping spread the news about the Medicare Mental Health phone service, the hope is that more people will know where they can make the confidential first step for advice, guidance, and connection to services.