Adult mental health services (16–64 years)
Adult mental health services are aimed primarily at people with serious mental illness or mental disorder who have significant levels of disturbance and psychosocial disability due to their illness or disorder. Commonly, these people have a diagnosed major mental illness (such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder), but the target group also includes some people with severe personality disorder or other conditions (such as severe anxiety disorder), and those who present in a situational crisis that may lead to self-harm or inappropriate behaviour towards others. The distinguishing factor is the level of severity of the disturbance, impairment and risk (acute or chronic).
Bendigo Health Psychiatric Service operates an 'integrated' model of community mental health service provision for persons between 16 - 64 years. This means that rather than having discreet teams for: Triage, Crisis Assessment; Mobile Intensive Treatment; and Case Management services, clinicians rotate through the four functions.
Services to the local area include:
-- Assessment and referral to: acute inpatient; residential and non-residential rehabilitation; and other generic health services
-- Case management
-- Crisis assessment and treatment
-- Mobile intensive support
-- Clinical interventions and treatments.
Additional important components of the services are:
-- Mental health education to carer and community groups
-- Mental health promotion
-- Consultation and liaison with other health workers and agencies
-- Outreach to smaller, more remote centres.
Contact: Entry to this service is via the 24 hour Regional Triage Service. For information, advice or an assessment contact the 24 hour Regional Triage Service - 1300 363 788.