Head to Health is now Medicare Mental Health

The Australian Government has renamed Head to Health mental health services – they are now called Medicare Mental Health. Here’s what you need to know.

Medicare Mental Health delivers free mental health support and advice through walk-in centres, a national telephone service and an interactive website.

While these services are now called Medicare Mental Health, new and existing clients will receive the same free, expert and targeted service – whether in person or on the phone.

It’s still the case that no referral, appointment or Medicare card is needed to access these services.

The Medicare Mental Health name and logo will appear on some referral pathways for GPs and other primary care professionals. The telephone intake and assessment service will provide advice and service navigation support to callers and referrers.

What does Medicare Mental Health mean for clients?

Website

The Medicare Mental Health website contains resources and links to mental health support services, emergency contacts, and pathways to allow people to self-refer for treatment and support.

For people seeking non-emergency assistance for mental health conditions, the website can be a useful start.

You can find it at medicarementalhealth.gov.au.

Telephone service

Anyone in need of free, confidential mental health advice and support can call Medicare Mental Health on 1800 595 212 weekdays between 8:30am and 5pm (excluding public holidays).

Staffed by mental health professionals, the phone service will link people with the services best suited to their needs, regardless of how the service is funded. Where possible, people will be connected with services in their local area.

Please note that Medicare Mental Health is not a crisis service. In an emergency, where someone is in immediate danger, always call Triple Zero (000) or go straight to the closest emergency department.

Walk-in centres

Tasmania already has a Medicare Mental Health Centre in Launceston, with further centres being established in Devonport, Burnie and outer Hobart.

People can walk into the Launceston Medicare Mental Health Centre without an appointment or referral.

While the Devonport, Burnie and outer Hobart centres are being established, an interim telehealth service is available to provide telephone-based mental health support to people in those areas.

Click here for more information about the support available through the Launceston centre and the interim telehealth service.

The Tasmanian centres are funded by the Australian Government through Primary Health Tasmania, and we have commissioned Stride Mental Health to establish and operate them.

What does Medicare Mental Health mean for GPs and other health professionals?

GPs, primary care providers and other health professionals can advise their patients to visit a Medicare Mental Health Centre, go to medicarementalhealth.gov.au, or call 1800 595 212.

GPs and other health professionals can also contact Medicare Mental Health for assistance in connecting their patients to free advice and support. Call 1800 595 212 or make an eReferral.

Health professionals and members of the community who call Medicare Mental Health will be connected with Tasmania’s mental health Central Intake and Referral Service (CIRS) team. The CIRS team uses the mental health Initial Assessment and Referral (IAR) decision support tool to ensure people are matched to the appropriate care that most suits their needs at the time.

Medicare Mental Health will refer to a wide range of private, community as well as public mental health services.

Medicare Mental Health is not a counselling or crisis service. Urgent referrals for acute mental health issues should go to Access Mental Health (1800 332 388) for possible referral to public mental health services. Where a person is at risk of attempting to harm themselves or someone else, call Triple Zero (000) immediately. 

The Tasmanian HealthPathways portal also provides online clinical guidance to GPs and other health professionals as well as service and referral information for many individual mental health services across Tasmania. Click here for more information.