Improving access and coordination to mental health service
Almost half of all Australian adults will experience mental ill-health at some stage in their lives. Ensuring timely access to care is crucial. Head to Health is designed to make it easier for individuals and health professionals to find the best available information, and services tailored to each person’s needs.
As a national initiative funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care, Head to Health complements existing services, providing an integrated approach to mental health care. These efforts are part of the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan, aiming to improve mental health service access and coordination across Australia.
Head to Health Model and Services
A national vision for Australia’s mental health and suicide prevention system
Head to Health offers a range of services, to complement, not replace or duplicate, mental health services already provided in the community, including:
- 1800 595 212 central intake and assessment service supported by a local provider network and referral team
- Online platforms and digital tools for consumers and health professionals
- Initial Assessment and Referral Decision Support Tool (IAR-DST) providing a framework guided by clinicians’ own assessment and clinical judgement
Head to Health is here to make life easier for GPs and other health professionals to support the mental health of the people they look after.
A mental health model that enhances patient experience
Hover on 1-5 below to learn more
Click on 1-5 below to learn more
- Calling 1800 595 212 (8.30am - 5pm, Mon-Fri)
- Requesting a callback via the North Coast Head to Health website
- Being referred by a GP or other support person via the online form
- Visiting a Medicare Mental Health Centre or a GP using the (IAR-DST) tool.
The Head to Health intake team, contracted by Healthy North Coast through the PHN program, uses the Initial Assessment and Referral Decision Support (IAR-DST) tool and clinical judgement to determine each person's level of care.
This can include mental health information, connection to services, and other types of support for consumers and carers. IAR-DST-trained GPs and staff at Medicare Mental Health Centres can also conduct assessments.
After the assessment by the Head to Health intake team or another IAR-DST trained professional, the results are reviewed. With consent, consumers are matched with suitable local mental health support based on their level of care and preferences.
A local referral team manages the North Coast Head to Health directory to connect consumers and carers to the right level of care.
Consumers are referred to services that meet their needs and circumstances. This can include PHN-funded programs and services, other low or no-cost services, or fee-paying services.
Head to Health teams aim to complete the intake, assessment and referral process within 7-10 days.
During assessment, patients will be asked if they consent to sharing the outcomes and referrals with their GP or other support person.
Head to Health levels of care explained
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Level 1: Self Management
Description
- Typically free and easy to access without referral
- Include e-mental health resources and other forms of self-help
- May be supported by psychoeducation, lifestyle interventions, group work, and additional services to assist with situational stressors.
Patient Profile
- No risk of harm
- Mild symptoms: Have typically been present for a short period of time
- May be in response to recent psychosocial stressors
- No or low levels of distress – may be in response to recent psychosocial stressors
- Functioning well
- High levels of motivation and engagement.
Level 2: Low Intensity
Description
- Can be accessed quickly and easily
- Involve few or short sessions
- May involve psychoeducation and evidence-based low-intensity interventions, including online, telephone, and face-to-face low intensity structured psychological services
- Brief interventions delivered by mental health professionals
- May be supported by lifestyle interventions, group work, and additional services to assist with situational stressors.
Patient Profile
- Minimal or no risk factors
- Mild symptoms: Have typically been present for less than 6 months (may vary). Likely to be in response to a stressful environment.
- Low levels of distress – likely to be in response to a stressful environment
- Functioning well
- May have problems with motivation or engagement.
Level 3: Moderate Intensity
Description
- Include a comprehensive psychological assessment
- Involve structured and reasonably frequent clinical interventions provided by a mental health clinician
- Are typically delivered in community locations and: may be face to face, via telehealth or utilise clinician assisted e-therapies
- May require community-based psychiatry
- May require clinical care coordination if multiple service involved
- Brief interventions delivered by mental health professionals
- May be supported by lifestyle interventions, additional services to address situational stressors and other non-clinical supports e.g., peer support.
Patient Profile
- Mild to moderate symptoms: Have typically been present for 6 months or more (may vary), meet criteria for a diagnosis
- Mild to moderate distress that meets criteria for a diagnosis
- Mild to moderate problems associated with:
- Risk of harm
- Daily functioning
- Co-existing conditions.
Level 4: High Intensity
Description
- Periods of intensive intervention
- Multidisciplinary support, often including a mental health nurse
- Psychological interventions
- Community based psychiatry
- Care coordination
- Typically supported by lifestyle interventions, support for situational stressors and other non-clinical supports e.g., peer support and psychosocial disability support.
Patient Profile
- Diagnosed mental health condition
- Significant symptoms
- Significant problems with functioning
- Moderate to severe problems associated with:
- Risk of harm
- Daily functioning
- Co-existing conditions.
Level 5: Specialist and Acute Intensity
Description
- Team based, multidisciplinary specialist assessment
- Intensive interventions – typically delivered by state or territory mental health services
- Assertive engagement with outreach capability
- Typically supported by lifestyle interventions, support for situational stressors and other non-clinical supports e.g., peer support and psychosocial disability support.
Patient Profile
- Significant symptoms
- Significant problems in functioning independently across multiple or most everyday roles
- Significant risk of suicide, self-harm, self-neglect, or vulnerability
- Significant risk of harm to others
- High level of distress with potential for debilitating consequence.
The Initial Assessment and Referral Decision Support Tool (IAR-DST) supports consistent, effective mental health decision-making. While it doesn't replace clinical judgment, it offers a standardised approach for assessing mental health needs and making appropriate referrals based on a comprehensive evaluation of individual circumstances.
Assessing mental health needs comprehensively involves evaluating multiple key domains. These domains provide a holistic view of an individual's mental wellbeing, ensuring tailored and effective care.
After the assessment, a level of care outcome is determined. This outcome should be reviewed alongside clinical judgment to finalise the appropriate care pathway for referring the consumer to services.
Head to Health is not a crisis or emergency service. Patients/consumers who are experiencing significant levels of distress, risk of suicide, self-harm, or risk of harm to others will be supported by Head to Health to access specialist, acute and crisis support. If you have immediate safety concerns for a patient or consumer, please follow your standard protocols, e.g., call Triple Zero (000) and/or Lifeline 13 11 14.
Referral and Training for Clinicians
Connecting Your Patients to the Right Mental Health Information and Services
Head to Health’s intake, assessment and referral service is here to support the crucial role you play in your patients’ mental wellbeing, simplifying access and navigation of the mental health system.
Enhanced Access to Services
Head to Health streamlines the process of connecting your patients with essential mental health services within our local community, including referrals to the Healthy Minds and Mental Health Nursing programs.
Training for GPs and Health Professionals
GPs and other health professionals can receive training on the Initial Assessment and Referral Decision Support Tool (IAR-DST), enabling them to assess patient needs that can be matched to services within the North Coast Head to Health Directory.
Easy Online Patient Referrals
While referrals are not required to access Head to Health, referring a patient is easy via our secure online referral form available at headtohealthnc.org.au/referral
This form can be used by GPs, general practice staff, other primary health professionals, local health district staff, and any other eligible health professionals that have completed the IAR-DST Training.
If you have a Mental Health Treatment Plan, a Child Treatment Plan, or have completed an assessment using the IAR Decision Support Tool, you can upload these with the form. However, this is not a requirement for referral. Upon receipt of the referral, you will receive confirmation from Head to Health.
View the service model for information about what happens once you have referred a patient to Head to Health.
*Referral templates for Medical Director and Best Practice are also being developed.
Patient Handover Via Telephone
As an alternative to the online referral, you can assist your patients by calling 1800 595 212 with them to provide a telephone handover.
By integrating Head to Health into your practice, you can enhance the support you provide to your patients, ensuring they receive mental health support that matches their level of care needs. Visit the National Head to Health website for more resources and information for health professionals.
Mental Health Providers
Join the North Coast Head to Health Service Directory
The North Coast Head to Health referral service is supported by trained professionals. The Healthy North Coast referral service maintains an up-to-date service directory and coordinates local referral pathways for consumers across the North Coast region.
This team works closely with the Head to Health Intake and Assessment service and trained Head to Health IAR-DST providers, ensuring consumers are referred to appropriate and timely services based on their assessed Level of Care. This includes managing a service directory of eligible mental services in the North Coast footprint.
By registering with North Coast Head to Health, your services will be included in our referral directory, making it easier for those in need to be matched to the right services and able to access timely care.
Have questions?
Contact our friendly Head to Health team
Related Mental Health Events & Training
Intake
The central intake and assessment service offers mental health information, services and support to consumers and or their carers. In NSW, the 1800 595 212 service is 24/7 and North Coast referrals can also be made online.
Triage & Referral
A local North Coast referral team supports the central intake and assessment service, plus other IAR-DST-trained providers, and uses a local provider directory to connect consumers to the right level of care.
Treatment
Consumers are referred to appropriate service(s) matching their level of need and circumstances. This may include existing PHN-funded program services, other low or no-cost services, or a fee-paying service.
We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land we live and work, the Bundjalung, Arakwal, Yaegl, Gumbaynggirr, Githabul, Dunghutti and Birpai Nations, and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to elders past, present and future.
