Mental health
SEMPHN coordinates primary mental health care across south eastern Melbourne and commissions services to address the mental health needs of our community.
We commission services to support people with mild, moderate and severe mental health needs.
These services range from peer-support, to brief psychological interventions, to individual packages of care. These services form part of the Mental Health Stepped Care Model approach, which tailors care to individual need and illness severity.
What is the Mental Health Stepped Care model?
This model approach allows for people experiencing different levels of mental health needs and illnesses to access a service most suited to them. Consumers are able to step up or step down to different levels of care as their needs change.
SEMPHN consulted with a range of stakeholders to develop a Mental Health Stepped Care Model in 2016.
The model has an evidence base supported by SEMPHN’s Mental Health Needs Assessment (2016), which includes information from over 100 sources.
HeadtoHelp
South Eastern Melbourne PHN is hosting three HeadtoHelp mental health hubs in Frankston, Officer and Berwick:
- Berwick Healthcare, 76 Clyde Road, Berwick, Victoria, 3806
- Young Street Medical and Dental, 89/97 Young Street, Frankston, Victoria, 3199
- Officer Medical Centre, 4 Cardinia Road, Officer, Victoria, 3809
For more information visit www.headtohelp.org.au or call 1800 595 212, or read the FAQ.
Accessible Psychological Interventions (API)
Accessible Psychological Interventions (API) services include a range of short-term psychological interventions for people with mild depression or anxiety. These services are available in individual (face-to-face, telephone or secure video consultation), family and group formats and are matched to people’s needs.
API services are also available across south eastern Melbourne to Residential Aged Care Facility (RACF) residents who struggle with mental illnesses or are at risk.
Why is this service needed?
API offers accessible ways for people with mild depression or anxiety to access the mental health services they need.
Video consultations are one way API clients can do this. API’s video consultations offer mental health consultations which are not dependent on geographic location, or people’s ability to attend appointments face-to-face.
API services are also offered to older people living in RACFs, as mental health services are not been routinely available or in within the scope of personal care or accommodation services RACFs provide. There is evidence that RACF residents have very high rates of common mental illness. It is estimated that approximately 39 per cent of all permanent aged care residents are living with mild to moderate depression. This service is intended to address this service gap.
Who have we commissioned?
API services are available across south eastern Melbourne.
- Connect Health provides this service in the local government area (LGA) of Bayside.
- Better Place Australia provides this service in the LGAs of Cardinia and Kingston.
- Mentis provides this service across the Mornington Peninsula
- EACH providers this service in the LGAs of Casey and the City Greater Dandenong
- LifeWorks provides this service in the LGAs of City of Frankston and Glen Eira
- StarHealth provide this service in the LGAs of Port Phillip and Stonnington.
API services in RACFs
Better Place Australia and StarHealth were commissioned to deliver API services in Mornington and across the SEMPHN catchment, respectively.
Better Place Australia’s service and contracts commenced on 17 January 2019 Services will end on 30 June 2022.
StarHealth’s service and contracts commenced on 1 July 2019 and contracts end on 30 June 2022.
Video consultations
Cyber Clinic was commissioned to provide a secure and encrypted video consultation platform for API service providers to include as another form of accessible care.
Cyber Clinic’s service and contracts commenced on 18 February 2019 and contracts end on 30 June 2020.
Read more information about API services.
Mental Health Integrated Complex Care (MHICC) services
Mental Health Integrated Complex Care (MHICC) services offer support for consumers with severe mental illness and complex needs who require coordination of their care over an extended period of time (6-12 months). MHICC services are highly flexible to match people’s individual needs.
Why is this service needed?
MHICC services are available for population groups that are harder to reach or are underserviced, and cannot currently access National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
Who have we commissioned?
MHICC Services commenced 1 December 2017. Are delivered by the following organisations
- First Step — Port Phillip
- Mentis Assist — Cardinia, Casey, Frankston, Mornington Peninsula
- Mind Australia — Greater Dandenong
- Star Health — Bayside, Glen Eira, Kingston, Stonnington
Read more about MHICC services.
Check out this short video about how our MHICC services are helping people in the community.
Low-Intensity Mental Health Services
Connect
Connect is a free peer-led mental health service designed to support people experiencing significant stress, anxiety, grief, sadness and related emotions.
Peer mentors support individuals to develop the skills, confidence and knowledge to improve their wellbeing and community connections.
Support and information is available in person, over the phone, and online. Connect is a multilingual team that reflects the diversity of its community. Connect is a SEMPHN-funded pilot program.
Why is this service needed?
Low-intensity services are intended to improve targeting of psychological interventions to most appropriately support people with or at risk of mild mental illness at the local level.
Who have we commissioned?
The Connect - Low Intensity Program's provider is Family Life.
GriefLine
GriefLine offers face-to-face and telephone support programs for migrant students, (grand)mothers experiencing complex grief, women returning/entering the workforce, and police officers.
Why is this service needed?
To deliver services that support consumers, family members and carers who are experiencing loss and grief and demonstrate help-seeking behaviour and who would benefit from individual, and/or group provision of low-intensity counselling interventions within the SEMPHN catchment. These services will specifically address the local needs of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse people, consumers with mental health illness, as well as emergency services and youth.
Who have we commissioned?
Grief Line has been commissioned to deliver this service in across 10 LGAs from 1 October 2018.
Psychosocial support services (PSS)
SEMPHN has commissioned Ermha, in partnership with Launch Housing to deliver Psychosocial Support Services in 2019 to address the needs of people who are not eligible for the NDIS and who may otherwise ‘fall through the gaps’.
This service builds psychosocial functional capacity to address individual needs and complements clinical mental health and broader physical health and social support. The focus should be on building capacity and connectedness at times when most needed, rather than providing ongoing support.
Read more information about Ermha.
Read more information about psychosocial support services.
Youth mental health
Read more about SEMPHN's commissioned youth mental health services.
Suicide Prevention
Read more about SEMPHN’s commissioned Suicide Prevention services and programs.
Commissioning opportunities
To hear about future commissioning opportunities, subscribe to our Commissioning Newsletter SEMaphore and register via eProcure here.
For general information or queries about commissioning, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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Events and Education See all
Webinar: Dementia in Diverse Groups - Caring for people with dementia who are culturally and linguistically different to you
External events
Thursday, 5 November 2020
19:00 - 20:30
Allied Health Professional, General Practitioner, Psychologist...
Webinar: Integrated Care Community of Practice - Case Discussion
External events
Tuesday, 10 November 2020
13:00 - 13:45
Allied Health Professional, AOD Worker, Case worker...
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