The Department of Health and Aged Care has launched a new phone contact service to help Australians access mental health support in their own communities.
Welcoming the new service, Minister for Mental Health, Emma McBride said the phone service was an important expansion of the national Head to Health service, which now included a network of adult mental health centres and satellite services.
“Every Australian, no matter where they live, can now make a free phone call to the national Head to Health support line where they will receive advice, assessment, and referral to mental health services that best suit their needs,” Ms McBride said.
She said the phone service was free and easy to access and would connect people to mental health services in their community that best suits their needs.
“This will help people, their friends and family, and their carers to seek the support they need when they need it,” she said.
Ms McBride said that after entering their postcode, the caller would be connected to a trained intake worker who understood the mental health services in their region.
She said the national phone service would operate alongside physical Head to Health centres, satellites, and the Head to Health website.
“Anyone in need of information and advice on the best mental health supports available to them or someone they know, can reach out to Head to Health,” the Minister said.
“You can contact Head to Health on 1800 595 212 from 8:30am to 5pm weekdays to find the right mental health service for yourself or someone you care for.”
The Head to Health website can be accessed at this PS News link.
