Service Navigator provides tailored mental health support to our community
05 Jun 2024
As the new provider of the Mental Health Service Navigator, One Door Mental Health is delivering personalised support and connecting individuals with local services such as mental health services, general practitioners (GPs) and community support services, including housing, employment, education, family and financial support.
SWSPHN Chief Executive Officer, Dr Keith McDonald PhD, said the Mental Health Service Navigator program was an important pathway for healthcare professionals to refer their patients for service navigation.
“The Mental Health Service Navigator program is crucial in identifying the necessary supports for mental health recovery and making referrals to those supports,” he said.
“The program is a vital part of our dedication to improving the mental health outcomes of our community and addressing the critical gap in accessing appropriate mental health support services, especially for individuals with severe and complex mental illness.
“SWSPHN previously delivered the program directly, but now, with One Door Mental Health commissioned as the service provider, we hope the much-needed program can be expanded.”
The Mental Health Service Navigator provides tailored support to individuals, family members or caregivers supporting someone experiencing severe mental health issues and can assist with:
- referrals to medical, psychological and social services
- information and advice on a wide range of services
- consultations available via phone, email or in person
One Door Mental Health is working actively with health professionals, including GPs and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services, to inform them about the services available for managing severe mental health illnesses and related psychosocial disorders.
The program can be accessed by individuals with psychosocial disabilities, their caregivers and families, health professionals, and people who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
To meet program criteria, the individual:
- has a severe mental illness (possibly undiagnosed) and associated psychosocial functional impairment
- has no restrictions on their ability to participate in the community fully and actively because of their residential setting (e.g. residing in prison or a psychiatric facility)
- is not receiving similar psychosocial support through a state or territory government program or the NDIS, where there is potential for duplication of service offerings
- is aged 16 years and over (exceptions for people younger than 16 years are subject to approval by SWSPHN)
The Mental Health Service Navigator is available from 9am to 5pm, Monday through Friday (excluding public holidays).