Healthy North Coast has established the Head to Health service in collaboration with the Department of Health (DoH). The free mental health service includes a 1800 helpline to help support local intake, assessment and referral, plus a new Head to Health Hub located at Lismore’s Primary Health Precinct at the Southern Cross University Campus.
Head to Health provides immediate mental health support and short to medium-term mental health care under a ‘no wrong door’ approach. If long-term care is needed, Head to Health will help connect people to the most appropriate services.
Head to Health can assist and support GPs and other health professionals in:
- providing a comprehensive patient assessment using the Initial Assessment Referral Decision Support Tool (IAR-DST) to identify the appropriate type of intensity of care needed for their patient (Level 1 to 5).
- finding the most suitable mental health support for their patients, including:
- access to existing low-intensity services and resources
- dedicated care provided at a Head to Health Hub or at other community-based services
- warm referral into specialist or acute mental health services, including emergency care or an area mental health triage.
Clinical care available at Lismore’s Head to Health Hub
Head to Health Hubs are staffed by multidisciplinary teams of skilled mental health professionals, including psychologists, mental health nurses, social workers, and alcohol and drug workers. These teams will collaborate with GPs to support their patients onsite or through telehealth services.
No referral needed
Patients do not require a GP referral to access Head to Health. The free intake and referral helpline is open Monday to Friday, 8.30 am – 5 pm on 1800 595 212, as is the Lismore Head to Health Hub. No appointment is needed to visit the Hub.
The Head to Health Hub team may request further information to assist your patient with the most appropriate care. If your patient is going to receive care from a clinic, with their permission, you will be contacted for further information and shared care planning.
Patient care plans can be shared with a person’s regular GP or referring health professional if the patient consents.
Please note, Head to Health is not a crisis service and patients requiring immediate care or crisis intervention should be managed through the local mental health triage or 000 if there are immediate safety concerns.