Mental Health
Mental Health Services commissioned by Murrumbidgee PHN
Murrumbidgee PHN is committed to ensuring people receive the right services at the right time and in the right place. Using our primary mental health care funds we purchase services within a stepped care approach. Through our regional planning role we promote a stepped care approach across the mental health system.
Our factsheet contains information on services available across the region. All services commissioned by Murrumbidgee PHN are free to the client.
Low Intensity – best suited to people who are experiencing everyday life pressures, at risk of developing a mental health condition. A mild mental health condition generally causes mild distress and minimal impact on everyday functioning. The person is likely to benefit from fewer sessions, less frequently with a workforce specially trained in brief low intensity interventions. May also include clinician assisted digital interventions, and group work.
Medium Intensity – best suited to people who are experiencing mild to moderate mental health conditions. Mild mental health conditions generally cause mild distress and minimal impact on everyday functioning. Moderate mental health conditions generally cause a moderate level of impairment in functioning and may cause distress over a longer period. A person with a mild to moderate mental health condition is likely to benefit from the services provided by an allied mental health clinician e.g. psychologist, and may need medium-longer term and more specialised intervention e.g. cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT).
Strong Minds
Psychological Services for People Accessing Aboriginal Medical Services
Connect – Telephone Psychological Services
Connect for Kids – Telephone Psychological Services for Kids
High Intensity – best suited to people who are experiencing moderate to severe mental health conditions. A severe mental health condition is likely to be enduring/persistent and limit everyday functioning e.g. ability to maintain or gain employment. An episode of mania, psychosis, or suicide attempt are also indicators of severity. A person with severe mental illness may also experience complex psychosocial issues.
Strong Minds
Partners in Recovery
Team Care for People Experiencing Severe Mental Illness
YouthSevere
Variable Intensity
Headspace
The Way Back Support Service
How do I make contact with the Central Intake Team?
Referrals can be sent via the MPHN Central Intake Service. This is not an emergency or crisis service. You may be required to leave a message. All messages are returned within one business day.
Phone: 1800 931 603
Fax: 02 6921 9911
Email: CentralIntake@mphn.org.au
Argus (for GP)s: connect@mphn.org.au
Low Intensity
NewAccess
Provides up to 6 coaching sessions of goal-focused support to help tackle day-to-day pressures. This service is for people aged 16+. Visit the webpage for more information.
Provider – Intereach
Location – MPHN region
Coaches are located in Wagga, Griffith and Deniliquin and outreach to all communities across the Murrumbidgee region.
Referral Process and Pathway – Self-referral or referral by a third party. No referral form or mental health treatment plan (MHTP) required.
Direct referral to Intereach or via MPHN Central Intake
Intereach
Phone: 1300 488 226
MPHN Central Intake
Phone: 1800 931 603
Fax: 02 6921 9911
MindSpot
The MindSpot Clinic is a free, clinician-assisted telephone and online service for Australian adults troubled by symptoms of anxiety or depression. This service is for people aged 16+
Provider – MindSpot is delivered by Macquarie University and funded by the Commonwealth Government
Location – Australia wide
Referral Process and Pathway – www.mindspot.org.au
Medium Intensity
Strong Minds
For individuals with mild-moderate mental health conditions, this service can provide a number of sessions of psychological intervention. The service is predominantly face-to-face and is available in towns throughout the Murrumbidgee. The service is delivered by appropriately trained and qualified mental health professionals. Suitable for people of all ages (including children and young people) For more information visit the Strong Minds website.
Provider – Marathon Health
Location – MPHN region
Clinicians are located in, or outreach to, all communities in the Murrumbidgee region
Referral Process and Pathway – via MPHN Central Intake
Phone: 1800 931 603
Fax: 02 6921 9911
Referral from GP via MHTP required. For children and young people, a Child Treatment Plan is required instead of the MHTP.
(Provisional referrals trigger an assessment only and can be made by other providers)
Psychological Services for People Accessing Aboriginal Medical Services
Provides face-to-face evidence based, psychological interventions at Riverina Medical and Dental Aboriginal Corporation, and Griffith Aboriginal Medical Service. The service is for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, and is delivered by appropriately trained and qualified mental health professionals. This service is for people aged 16+
Provider – Riverina Medical and Dental Aboriginal Corporation, and Griffith Aboriginal Medical Service
Location – Wagga Wagga and Griffith
Referral Process and Pathway – Referral from Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS) GPs only, with MHTP direct to clinician
Connect – Telephone Psychological Services
Provides a telephone and video-conferencing psychology service for people who would prefer not to wait for a face to face intervention, or who like to receive services electronically because of distance, or preference. This service is for people aged 16+. Visit the webpage for more information
Provider – Melbourne Primary Care Network
Location – The service is available to anyone living in the MPHN region
Referral Process and Pathway – via MPHN Central Intake
Phone: 1800 931 603
Fax: 02 6921 9911
Referral from GP, MHTP required
Connect for Kids – Telephone Psychological Services for Kids
Provides video-based psychology services for children and families. This service is delivered by an experienced multi-disciplinary team. This service is for children aged 0-16
Provider – Royal Far West
Location – The service is available to anyone living in the MPHN region
Referral Process and Pathway – via MPHN Central Intake
Phone: 1800 931 603
Fax: 02 6921 9911
Referral from GP, Child Treatment Plan required
High Intensity
Strong Minds
For individuals with moderate to severe mental health conditions, this service can provide a number of sessions of psychological intervention. The service is usually provided face-to-face and is available in towns throughout the Murrumbidgee. The service is delivered by appropriately trained and qualified mental health professionals. Suitable for people of all ages (including children and young people). For more information visit Strong Minds website
Provider – Marathon Health
Location – The service is available to anyone living in the MPHN region. Clinicians are located in, or outreach to, all communities in the Murrumbidgee region.
Referral Process and Pathway – via MPHN Central Intake
Phone: 1800 931 603
Fax: 02 6921 9911
Referral from GP via MHTP required. For children and young people, a Child Treatment Plan is required instead of the MHTP.
(Provisional referrals trigger an assessment only and can be made by other providers.)
Partners in Recovery
Partners in Recovery is aimed at people experiencing severe and persistent mental illness with complex needs. This is a non-clinical care coordination model.
Visit the webpage for more information
Provider – MPHN
Location – The service is available to anyone living in the MPHN region
Referral Process and Pathway – via MPHN Central Intake
Phone: 1800 931 603
Fax: 02 6921 9911
Self-referral or referral by a third party. Fill in the referral form or simply call Central Intake on the number above, and we can complete the process with you.
Team Care for People Experiencing Severe Mental Illness
Provides intensive psychological intervention and care coordination by mental health nurses for people with severe and persistent mental illness, who are not actively supported by the Community Mental Health Team. Given the complex needs of the target group, the service also supports better integration between social care and community supports, health and medical supports. This service is for people aged 16+
Locations – Adelong, Batlow, Boorowa, Griffith, Gundagai, Harden, Leeton, Narrandera, Temora, Tumbarumba, Tumut, West Wyalong, Young.
Referral Process and Pathway – via MPHN Central Intake
Phone: 1800 931 603
Fax: 02 6921 9911
Team Care for People Experiencing Severe Mental Illness is also available in selected general practices:
Trail Street Medical Centre, phone 02 6921 3990
Connection Medical Centre (Tumut), phone 02 6947 6711
Cootamundra Medical Centre, phone 02 6942 0222
Temora Medical Complex, phone 02 6977 3600
For a referral within these general practices, please contact the practice directly.
Referral from GP, MHTP required
(Provisional referrals trigger an assessment only and can be made by other providers)
YouthSevere
YouthSevere activity targets young people with, or at risk of, severe mental illness, who experience considerable disadvantage when accessing (or attempting to access) services. The service provides assertive support, focused on outreach into the community targeting very hard to reach young people and evidence based focused psychological interventions.
Provider
Wagga Wagga – headspace
Griffith – headspace
Riverina region – MLHD Specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
Location – MPHN region
Clinicians are located in, or outreach to, all communities in the Murrumbidgee region
Referral Process and Pathway – via the headspace centres
Wagga Wagga – Phone: 02 6923 3170
Griffith – Phone: 02 6962 3277
Referrals can be made by anyone (including self-referral) by contacting the centres directly or completing and submitting the referral for Wagga or Griffith
Riverina – www.mlhd.health.nsw.gov.au
Referrals can be made by anyone (including self-referral)
Variable Intensity
Headspace
Headspace centres are for young people aged 12-25 who are at risk of, or experiencing, mental health issues
Visit the webpage for more information about Wagga Wagga headspace
Visit the webpage for more information about Griffith headspace
Provider
Wagga Wagga – Relationships Australia
Griffith – Centacare South West NSW
Location – The Centres are located in Wagga Wagga and Griffith and provide limited outreach
Referral Process and Pathway – via the headspace centres
Wagga Wagga – Phone: 02 6923 3170
Griffith – Phone: 02 6962 3277
Referrals can be made by anyone (including self-referral) by contacting the centres directly or completing and submitting the referral for Wagga or Griffith
The Way Back Support Service
The Way Back suicide prevention model provides support to people most at‐risk of suicide: people who have attempted suicide or those at risk of suicide and lacking support. Non-clinical assertive outreach follow-up support is provided to individuals who have attempted suicide for up to three months. This support assists a person to stay safe and connect with existing health and community services during a period of high risk and vulnerability.
Provider – Wellways Australia
Location – MPHN region
Support workers are located in, or outreach to, all communities in the Murrumbidgee region
Referral Process and Pathway – The Murrumbidgee Local Health District (MLHD) Community Mental Health Teams, Inpatient Units and Mental Health Emergency Consultation Service (MHECS) are able to refer people on discharge from hospital, to the Service.
Referrals can be made to Wellways Australia directly or via MPHN Central Intake
Wellways Australia
Phone: 1300 444 100
MPHN Central Intake
Phone: 1800 931 603
Fax: 02 6921 9911
To access crisis support contact –
Murrumbidgee Accessline: 1800 800 944
NSW Mental Health Line: 1800 011 511
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
How do I make a referral?
Send referral information to the MPHN Central Intake Team. MPHN Central Intake Service contact details:
Referral Phone Line: 1800 931 603
Referral Secure Fax Line: 02 6921 9911
Referral Email: centralintake@mphn.org.au
If a MHTP or CTP is required, an incomplete MHTP or CTP may delay processing of referrals. Please ensure all MHTP and CTPs are complete.
How long will it take for the person I’m referring to be seen?
The MPHN Central Intake Team will contact the referred person within 3 days, to undertake screening assessment. MPHN will send a letter back to the referrer, advising of the outcome of screening or if we have been unable to make contact with the individual.
After screening is complete, the referral is allocated to a commissioned service. Waiting times vary, and it may take 4-6 weeks for the person to have their first appointment. The MPHN Central Intake Team does prioritise referrals for people who are at risk of self-harm or suicide. However, no services commissioned by MPHN are crisis or emergency services. If you require an urgent service, a referral to Accessline (1800 800 944) may be more appropriate.
If you have questions or concerns about the expected wait time, you can call MPHN Central Intake on 1800 931 603.
Who is eligible for these services?
People whose care is primarily managed within general practice/primary care
Are likely to benefit from the service type and intensity provided by a MPHN commissioned service
Do not require a less intensive service e.g. digital supports
Do not require an acute or emergency service e.g. Accessline, hospital (acute and emergency services are not commissioned by MPHN)
Who is not eligible for these services?
A person may not be eligible for support if they:
Are actively supported by state community mental health services
Are already receiving a similar type of service e.g. already accessing treatment via fee for service or Medicare funded mental health professional
Require a different type of service, or different service intensity
Require an acute or emergency service (please contact Accessline on 1800 800 944)
Have persistent/recurrent thoughts of self-harm for months or years
Person is actively experiencing acute psychotic symptoms
How do I make contact with the Central Intake Team?
Referrals can be sent via the MPHN Central Intake Service. This is not an emergency or crisis service. You may be required to leave a message. All messages are returned within one business day.
Phone: 1800 931 603
Fax: 02 6921 9911
Email: CentralIntake@mphn.org.au
Argus (for GPs): connect@mphn.org.au