Starting from today, Mornington Peninsula residents will have access to a new range of free mental health support services.
The new services are part of an Australian Government’s $11 million funding package for mental health services across South Eastern Melbourne.
The new services include:
• Accessible Psychological Interventions (APIs) to support those with mild/moderate mental health conditions. These services include counselling which can be delivered in individual, family or group settings.
• Mental Health Integrated Complex Care (MHICC) services to support those with severe/complex mental illness, including clinical nursing services, family support and liaison, care co-ordination and improving access to psychiatrist and psychological care. MHICC services start 1 December.
“These new services have been designed in line with best practice mental health guidelines, as well as extensive consumer and professional consultation,” Minister for Health and Federal Member for Flinders Greg Hunt said.
“These services are flexible, with the consumer able to step up or step down to different intensity support as their needs change over time.”
Both services will be delivered by Mornington-based mental health organisation Mentis Assist, which won an open tender process conducted by the South Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network (SEMPHN) earlier this year.
“This new mental health package means that it will now be easier than ever for local residents to access the right mental health service or find out where to get support,” Mr Hunt said.
“Having a single point of contact for support will help address one of the most common complaints I hear from constituents which is how hard and confusing it is to navigate the mental health system.”
Elizabeth Deveny, CEO of SEMPHN, echoed the Minister’s comments, saying these new services would provide much needed assistance to Mornington Peninsula residents.
“As part of our Mental Health Stepped Care Model, these services are based on national best practice guidelines and 18 months’ consultation with consumers, carers, health professionals and service providers. It’s wonderful to be at the point of launching them to our community,” she said.
“The new service models are truly innovative and designed to reach people who have been missing out on the mental health support they need.
“After a comprehensive procurement process, we’re very pleased to award Mentis Assist as the provider of these new mental health services in the Mornington Peninsula region.”
Anyone, including consumers, family and friends as well as health professionals, can call SEMPHN’s Mental Health Intake number (1800 862 363) during business hours for referral information.
The new services to be delivered by Mentis Assist are primarily for people who have a health care card or can’t afford/access similar services, as well as priority groups including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, people living in residential aged care facilities, people with perinatal depression and people who have experienced family violence.
ABOUT SEMPHN
South Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network (SEMPHN) works on behalf of the Australian Government to improve local health care and ensure that our community has access to the right care, in the right place, at the right time.
ABOUT MENTIS ASSIST
Mentis Assist provides specialised mental health support for people living with a mental illness. Mentis Assist has been operating for 30 years in the Southern/Bayside/Peninsula region.