Mental
Health Services
Central
Psychiatric Triage Service – 1300 369 012
Southern Health provides a variety of Mental
Health services across the south east region. Services are organised according
to client age, geographic region and diagnosis.
All services* are centrally
coordinated through the Psychiatric Triage Service. This number will
give you direct contact with a mental health clinician 24 hours a day, seven
days a week. These clinicians are skilled in providing rapid assessment and
triage to the correct service.
Psychiatric Triage Service 1300 369 012
GPs are encouraged to phone the central
triage number when referring, to discuss the client’s case in order to establish
referral to the most appropriate service.
Note:
Peak periods do occur and wait times may be inconvenient; GPs are able to leave
a message if this occurs and should be reassured that the Triage service will
return the call as soon as possible.
* For clients aged 65+,
during business hours triage
services are provided by the following access points: Kingston 03 9265 1750 /
Dandenong 03 9709 7100. After hours crisis response is provided by the
Psychiatric Triage Service as above.
Eating Disorders
Adolescent Medicine
Outpatient Clinic (Age <18 years)
This clinic is for adolescents with complex medical problems, both acute and
chronic, not under the care of other paediatric units. All children are seen by
a Paediatrician and, if necessary, by a dietitian and/or psych liaison nurse.
A significant proportion of
clients seen in this clinic have eating disorders.
In
addition to the Outpatient Clinic, an Adolescent Eating Disorder
Assessment Clinic is
currently being piloted for clients within the Southern Health catchment area
only. This clinic runs fortnightly on a Monday afternoon. Joint assessments
with a Paediatrician, Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist/Hospital Consultation
Liaison Nurse, and a Dietitian occur in the Department of Child and Adolescent
Psychiatry. The assessments take approximately 2.5 hours each.
Referrals are to come through the
Adolescent Medicine Outpatient Clinic and each case is then assessed for
suitability for this clinic (usually someone with a clearer picture of an Eating
Disorder, not just a suspicion).
For referral criteria, recommended
investigations and additional information regarding the Adolescent Medicine
Outpatient Clinic including contact details refer to:
http://www.southernhealth.org.au/gp/wandc/147_adol_med_frame.htm
Adult Eating Disorders: Referrals for all outpatient adult eating
disorders should be directed to Dr Patricia Miach by phone or fax direct on the
numbers below. A phone call from the GP is preferred to discuss the referral.
Click here
to view a brochure on the Eating Disorders Program.
Contact:
Dr.Patricia Miach, Eating Disorders Program, Adult Psychiatry, Southern Health
Phone: 03 9594 1442, Fax: 9594 6266
Mother & Baby Unit
Southern Health’s Mother &
Baby Unit is located at Monash Medical Centre. The Mother Baby Unit is a 6 bed
+ 6 cot unit for women with a psychiatric illness associated with childbirth.
Non toddling infants up to 12 months of age are admitted with their mothers.
The catchment area
for Monash Mother Baby Unit is the South East of Victoria.
For eligibility
criteria and referral information, refer to:
http://www.southernhealth.org.au/gp/Clayton%20Mother%20Baby%20Unit.pdf
Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service
For comprehensive information
regarding the various CAMHS programs and services across Southern Health sites
please visit their website:
http://www.southernhealth.org.au/camhs/Default.htm
For information
regarding CAMHS specialist programs including:
- Specialist
Neuropsychiatry Assessment Paediatric Program (SNAPP)
- ADHD &
Tourette’s Clinic
- OCD Clinic
- Monash Autism
Program, and
- Consultation
Liaison Clinicians
Visit:
http://www.southernhealth.org.au/camhs/specialist_programs.htm
Community Services
The Crisis Assessment & Treatment
Team (CATT) provides a home based support service which is seen as an
alternative to Hospital admission. CATT is a multi-disciplinary team with
psychologists/psychiatrists/social workers and nurses. The CATT generally deals
with clients aged 16-65.
The Extended Crisis Assessment &
Treatment Team (ECATT) provides after hours backup and Emergency Department
assessments. This service will assess and make appropriate arrangements for
clients based on age and diagnosis - i.e. children will be referred to CAMHS
etc.
The ECATT can also refer clients to an
ACT service which is a suicide prevention program for those that are
deemed at risk but do not require hospitalisation. If a GP has concern about
suicide risk then they can refer their client to the ED for a general assessment
if other options are not available.
The Mobile Support Team (MST) is
for people with chronic psychiatric illnesses/disorders who often have chronic
positive symptoms, difficult behaviours and/or poor compliance with prescribed
medication.
Primary Mental Health
Teams
The brief of The Primary
Mental Health Teams (PMHTs) is to capacity build Primary Care Providers, by
increasing their skills and knowledge base in the identification, assessment and
treatment of people experiencing high prevalence mental disorders such as
anxiety and depression.
The teams also have a brief to assist Primary Care
Professionals in the case of young people who may be experiencing psychological
distress or their first episode of psychosis.
PMHTs provide specialist backup
to the GP, where the GP remains the primary provider of the clients care. PMHTs
will consult with the client/the GP and make recommendations to the GP in terms
of ongoing management and other service involvement.
PMHTs work across the life
span and therefore can be consulted in regard to children, adolescents, adults
and older persons.
In terms of geographical catchments, it should be noted that PMHTs consider the Primary Care Provider as “the Client”. Therefore, it is the
location of a GP/GP Practice within the Adult Mental Health boundary catchments
that is considered when making referrals, not the address of the patient.
There are two teams operating across
Southern Health catchment areas:
South East Primary
Mental Health Team & Middle South Primary
Mental Health Team
These teams can be contacted either
directly, or via the Psychiatric Triage Service on 1300 369 012.
South East Primary Mental Health
Team (SEPMHT)
This service supports
Practitioners working within the areas of City of Greater Dandenong, City of
Casey and Shire of Cardinia.
More information on the SEPMHT
About
the South East Primary Mental Health Team
Referral Criteria
Referral Form
Services Offered
Middle South Primary Mental Health
Team (PrimeHealth)
This service supports
Practitioners working within the areas of Oakleigh, Moorabbin, Brighton,
Mordialloc & Sandringham.
More information on PrimeHealth
PrimeHealth Brochure (note this document should be printed, and folded in
brochure format – this brochure includes information on services offered and
referral criteria.)
Information for Patients
Referral Form
Emergency & After Hours Support Options
Psychiatric
Triage Service
This service will assess and direct the client to the most appropriate
service/location. This could be any one of the many mental health
services/programs available.
Psychiatric Triage Service 1300 369 012
Through Monash / Dandenong / Casey Hospital Emergency Departments
The Extended Crisis Assessment & Treatment Team (ECATT) will assess the patient
(once medical teams have ruled out any physical condition) and make the
appropriate referral based on the patients needs.
Aged Persons Mental Health Services
For comprehensive information
regarding Aged Persons Mental Health Services, including in-patient units visit:
http://www.southernhealth.org.au/rasp/aged_mental_health.htm
More information
For more information
regarding Southern Health’s Mental Health Services visit:
www.southernhealth.org.au/mhealth.htm
