Accessing 24-hour mental health support
1300 MH CALL (1300 64 2255) is a state-wide 24-hour crisis assistance and support line, providing individuals within the Mackay Hospital and Health Service with a single point of entry to the mental health service and access to clinicians who can advise and facilitate appropriate care, support or referral.
Alcohol and Other Drugs 24-hour information and Counselling 1800 177 833 (free call outside of Brisbane).
Mental Health Service
The Division of Mental Health and AODS is comprised of 12 clinical teams across the Mackay Hospital and Health Service.
The Mental Health Service is responsible for the provision of comprehensive, specialised mental health assessment and treatment services across the age-spectrum for people with severe and complex mental health problems.
Our services aim to be client focused and recovery oriented and are provided in a variety of settings including community, an acute inpatient unit, hospitals and emergency departments.
Mental Health Inpatient Unit (MHIU)
The Mackay Mental Health Inpatient Unit aims to provide a safe service that protects and safeguards the rights of individuals with mental health issues, whilst supporting them through their recovery.
People may require in-patient care in a hospital if they are acutely unwell and cannot be treated effectively while living at home. This is usually for a period of days or weeks only, until symptoms respond to treatment.
While in hospital there is a diverse team of specialists who will be a part of your treating team. These may include an Occupational Therapist, Psychologist, Social Worker, Dietician, Recreation Officer, Peer Support Worker and other specialist doctors, dependent on specific health needs of the individual.
The Mackay Mental Health Inpatient Unit is available to anyone within the Mackay Hospital and Health Service (Bowen, Clermont, Collinsville, Dysart, Mackay, Moranbah, Proserpine, Sarina, Glenden and Middlemount) who may require a hospital admission for mental health concerns.
Acute Care Team
This is the first point of contact to public mental health services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week via 1300 MH CALL (1300 64 2255).
There are multiple ways to make contact, which are outlined below. Once contact is made, you will be triaged and/or assessed by a mental health clinician to determine the most appropriate type of care; crisis interventions, referral to an external service provider, community case management or an inpatient admission.
Referrals can be made by anyone, including yourself, family, friends and other service providers such as your GP, community, government and non-government agencies via the following;
Self-referral
Call 1300 MH CALL (1300 64 2255) 24hrs / 7 days per week to discuss your mental health concerns.
* 1300 MH CALL can also be called if you are concerned about the mental health of another person.
GP referral
Your GP can refer you to CMH by calling 1300 MH CALL or providing a written referral via fax 4968 6894.
Following an inpatient admission
If the treating team determine that there is benefit from continuing treatment Community Mental Health, they will arrange for the person to be allocated a Case Manager within one of the community-based teams prior to being discharged.
Emergency Department presentation
If someone presents to the ED and it is determined that they require a mental health service, ED will complete a referral to mental health triage.
Please Note:
- For emergencies after hours, individuals may present to the Mackay Base Hospital Emergency Department.
- If you would like to speak to a member of staff about a client of the mental health service, you can contact the team by telephoning.
Crisis Support Service – Safe Harbour
Safe Harbour, a Crisis Support Space (CSS), is an alternative to the emergency department for people experiencing mental health crisis, distress or thoughts of suicide.
We offer support from peer workers and clinicians in a warm, therapeutic environment where you can relax and talk to someone who will take the time to listen and help you work through what’s happening.
Continuing Care Team (CCT)
CCT provides clinical case management and other therapies for adults aged between 18 and 65 years, experiencing significant and long-term mental illness.
Older Persons Mental Health Service (OPMHS)
OPMHS provides clinical case management for adults over the age of 65 years (55, for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults) with a mental illness or a disorder complicating an underlying medical condition.
Mobile Intensive Rehabilitation Team (MIRT)
MIRT provides clinical case management for adults aged between 18 and 65 years with complex mental health needs, who require more intensive support to recover from mental illness.
Step-Up Step-Down Service (SUSD)
The Mackay Step-Up Step-Down Service (SUSD) provides short-term, residential treatment services located in the community, with a recovery focus.
SUSD services provide early intervention for people who are becoming unwell but do not require a hospital admission and for those in the early stages of recovery following an inpatient admission.
SUSD offers a unique setting for people to start their recovery journey and resume their role in the community by providing coordinated, recovery-oriented treatment and support.
The SUSD setting encourages links to the person’s natural supports and their participation in community life. Accessing the SUSD requires a referral from your treating Doctor, Case Manager or a member of the Acute Care Team (ACT).
Child, Youth and Young Adult
Child and Youth Mental Health (CYMHS)
CYMHS provides assessment and treatment for children and young people up to the age of 18 who have severe behavioural and/or emotional difficulties that impact on their daily functioning. The service is based in Mackay with limited outreach services to Bowen, Moranbah and Sarina.
EVOLVE Therapeutic Services
EVOLVE provides mental health support to children, youths and families referred by Department of Child Safety in the Mackay region, through a coordinated partnership between government and non-government agencies.
Assertive Mobile Youth Outreach Services (AMYOS)
AMYOS provide ongoing recovery-oriented assessment and assertive treatment and care, aimed at improving the quality of life for young people with complex mental health needs, who have struggled to meaningfully engage with the Child and Youth team.
Early Psychosis (EP)
EP provides early detection and treatment for people aged 16 – 24 years who are at high risk of or are experiencing their first episode of psychosis.
Alcohol and Other Drugs Service (AODS)
AODS provides a range of services for clients of all ages experiencing alcohol and/or drug dependence, many of whom also have mental health and medical problems.
Rural
Hinterland (Moranbah)
Adult – Provides access to specialist mental health practitioners for individuals aged between 18 and 65 years and living in the community, offering assessment, case management, clinical rehabilitation and therapeutic interventions. Services are free, confidential and in accordance with the individual needs of the clients.
Child and Youth – Provides access to specialist mental health practitioners offering assessment, case management, clinical rehabilitation and therapeutic interventions for children and young people up to the age of 18 who have severe behavioural and/or emotional problems that impact on their daily functioning. Services are free, confidential and in accordance with the individual needs of the client and their family.
Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) – Provides access to AOD practitioners offering assessment, counselling, access to the needle and syringe program and advice on education, training and health promotion/prevention.
Psychiatrist Coverage Adult – A rural psychiatrist and registrar provide regular face to face and video conference clinics in Moranbah.
Psychiatrist Coverage Child & Youth – A rural child and youth psychiatrist provides regular face to face and video conference clinics at in Moranbah.
Whitsunday
Adult – Provides access to specialist mental health practitioners offering assessment, case management, clinical rehabilitation and therapeutic interventions to adults experiencing mental illness aged between 18 & 65 years and living in the community.
Child and Youth – Provides access to specialist mental health practitioners offering assessment, case management, clinical rehabilitation and therapeutic interventions for children and young people up to the age of 18 who have severe and complex emotional disorders that impact on their daily functioning, or those at risk of becoming so and whose needs cannot be met by other services.
Alcohol and Other Drugs – Provides access to AOD practitioners offering assessment, counselling, opiate replacement program, drug withdrawal management, access to the needle and syringe program and advice on education, training and health promotion/prevention.
Psychiatrist Coverage Adult – A rural Psychiatrist and Registrar provide regular face to face and video conference clinics at Proserpine and Bowen hospitals.
Psychiatrist Coverage Child and Youth – A rural child and youth Psychiatrist provides weekly telehealth clinics at Proserpine and Bowen hospitals.
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