Mental health nurses

If you or someone you know has a mental illness, you might choose to see a mental health nurse.

Mental health nurses can help people with mental health conditions by:

• getting involved early
• assessing your risk
• acting quickly in a crisis
• supporting your ongoing recovery

They can also help you find and use different mental health services.

What training does a mental health nurse have?

Mental health nurses are registered nurses who hold special qualifications in mental health. Mental health nurses are registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.

Some mental health nurses are accredited through the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses (Opens in new tab).

What conditions do mental health nurses treat?

A mental health nurse specialises in working with people who have mental illness. Mental health conditions can include:

• bipolar disorder
• depression and anxiety
• postnatal depression
• psychosis
• schizophrenia
• substance abuse

Mental health nurses can help you if you are also managing physical illness. Mental health, physical health and other aspects of life can all affect each other. Mental health nurses work with people to help them manage their lives.

If you are struggling with mental health issues, you may see a mental health nurse. They can:

• work with you to plan your recovery
• provide counselling and strategies to deal with emotional difficulties and stress
• help you deal with your symptoms and any medicines you take
• help you get support from Services Australia (Opens in new tab) or housing and community programs
• help educate you, your family and your doctor about your mental illness and its treatment
• support you to talk to your doctor about mental health
• help you review your mental health treatment plan with your doctor

A mental health nurse can also talk with other health professionals involved in your care, such as:

• your doctor
• your psychologist or psychiatrist
• a social worker[

What if I am in a crisis?

A mental health nurse can help you in a crisis. They can also help you find more help if you need it. 

A mental health nurse can help you:

• in person
• online
• by phone or text

Your mental health nurse always maintains your safety as a priority. They can arrange hospital care if they think you are at risk of harming yourself or others.

When seeing a mental health nurse, they may ask what's going on in your life right now. You may want to talk about any:

• stressful experiences or feelings you have had
• changes you have noticed in your mood, appetite, self-esteem or relationships
• changes that have affected your life

Sharing your experiences can give your mental health nurse the information they need to care for you.

It can be hard to talk about difficult topics. You don't have to share information that you don't feel comfortable speaking about.

When booking your appointment, you can ask:

• how much the session will cost
• if you can have a longer appointment to discuss your mental health concerns

To make sure you get what you want out of your appointment, you can ask:

• what resources your mental health nurse can provide
• how your information will be kept private
• how your mental health nurse will communicate with other healthcare professionals who care for you
• how often you can see your mental health nurse

Mental health nurses usually work as part of a wider team of health professionals. They may work in many different places, such as:

• the community
• mental health units in hospitals and nursing homes
• psychiatric hospitals

Some general practices have mental health nurses. Mental health nurses can also visit you at home.

For some people, a mental health nurse is their main contact with the health system.

Mental health nurses can also work remotely, to help you over the phone or online.

To speak with a mental health nurse, you can:

• ask your doctor for a referral
• ask about mental health nursing services at your local hospital

You can see a mental health nurse at your local doctor's office or community health centre without a referral.

Some mental health nurse practitioners work in special clinics or private practices. For these services, you may need a referral from your doctor.

It's a good idea to see your doctor before you make an appointment with a mental health nurse. Your doctor can suggest mental health nurses near you. They can also help develop develop a mental health treatment plan with you.

You can also call a mental health telephone service. They can help you find a mental health nurse near you. Medicare Mental Health (Opens in new tab) centres offer free mental health care and can connect you to longer-term support. Find one near you (Opens in new tab).

The cost of seeing a mental health nurse can vary depending on the type of facility you go to — it can be free or have out-of-pocket costs.

If you are referred by your doctor to a community mental health service, the services are usually covered by the public system and are free.

If you visit a mental health nurse at a private clinic or your doctor’s office, you will probably need to pay a fee. Medicare can help with some of the cost if you have a mental health treatment plan from your doctor.

If you have private health insurance, check with your insurer to see if you can claim some money back.

When you make your appointment, remember to ask how much you’ll pay.

Find out more about the costs of mental health services.

The Australian College of Mental Health Nurses (Opens in new tab) provides a service to contact credentialed mental health nurses.

You can contact mental health services in your state to receive support:

• Australian Capital Territory (Opens in new tab) Government — Mental health
• New South Wales (Opens in new tab) Health — Mental health services and support contact list
• Northern Territory (Opens in new tab) Government — Mental health
• Queensland (Opens in new tab) Mental Health Commission — Find support services
• South Australia (Opens in new tab) Health — Mental health services
• Tasmanian (Opens in new tab) Government — Access mental health helpline
• Victoria (Opens in new tab) State Government — Mental health services
• Western Australia (Opens in new tab) Mental Health Commission — Getting help — finding a service

For advice and to connect to local mental health services, call Medicare Mental Health on 1800 595 212. Check the operating times (Opens in new tab).