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 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) to help find a psychiatrist by area, speciality or language.
- Contacting your local Partners in Wellbeing service. 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 (The Locals). Locals deliver integrated mental health and wellbeing treatment, care and support for people aged 26 years and over.
- For more information about Mental Health and Wellbeing Locals visit, Local Services page on the Department of Health website.
- Contacting a mental health telephone, text or online counselling service or a general counsellor. The following organisations provide counselling services and referrals:
In an emergency
Reviewed 15 September 2023
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