If you or someone you know is facing mental health and wellbeing challenges, it is important to talk to friends and family, and/or seek professional support early.
You can do this by:
- Contacting your local mental health triage service. This is the usual entry point to mental health services. Each public mental health service in Victoria provides a psychiatric triage and referral service 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Triage provides an initial assessment and identifies whether a person needs further assessment or referral. Find local mental health triage services and search by suburb.
- Talking to your local doctor (or GP) who can prepare a Mental Health Treatment Plan(opens in a new window) for you if needed. These plans give you access of up to 10 individual psychology appointments and up to 10 group allied mental health services each year, through Medicare. Your local doctor can also make a referral to a private psychiatrist or a public clinical mental health service if required.
- Contacting the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP)(opens in a new window) to help find a psychiatrist by area, speciality or language.
- Contacting your local Partners in Wellbeing service(opens in a new window). These free community-based services are available to help anyone who is feeling overwhelmed or having a difficult time. Staff provide free one-on-one support to help you manage your mental health. They’ll also help you find other health or social support services if needed.
- Contacting your Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals. Locals deliver integrated mental health and wellbeing treatment, care and support for people aged 26 years and over.
- Contacting a mental health telephone, text or online counselling service or a general counsellor. The following organisations provide counselling services and referrals:
- Lifeline(opens in a new window)
- Beyond Blue(opens in a new window)
- Suicide Line (opens in a new window)
- Yarning Safe’N’Strong (opens in a new window)
- Headspace (opens in a new window)
- Kids Help Line(opens in a new window)
- Directline(opens in a new window)
- Family Drug and Gambling Help(opens in a new window)
- Family Drug Support (opens in a new window)
In an emergency
- If there is immediate risk of harm to a person, call Triple Zero (000).
- For 24-hour crisis support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Making a complaint and seeking advocacy
Find out how to raise a concern about the care provided by a mental health and wellbeing service.
Second psychiatric opinion and process of review by Chief Psychiatrist
A second psychiatric opinion can be sought to review the treatment of an eligible patient to assess whether the criteria for a treatment order apply.
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