Tasmania’s mental health Central Intake and Referral Service (CIRS) aims to make it easier for Tasmanians to find the mental health support they need.
GPs and other health professionals can use the free service for assistance in connecting their patients to appropriate mental health care and support. They can call the CIRS on 1800 595 212, or make an eReferral. Operating hours are Monday to Friday 8:30am-5pm, excluding public holidays.
The CIRS intake team members – trained professionals based in Tasmania – help assess patients’ needs and then connect them to the most appropriate local mental health services that are available. This includes government-funded services, private services, and community sector services.
The mental health Initial Assessment and Referral (IAR) decision support tool is used to ensure people are matched to the care that most suits their needs at the time.
The CIRS does not replace any existing consumer mental health advice and referral services. It operates alongside the Tasmanian Department of Health’s Access Mental Health phone service.
How will people access the CIRS?
People needing mental health support, their family and friends, and the GPs and other health professionals providing their care can all access the CIRS by calling 1800 595 212 (the national Head to Health phone service).
Once they enter their Tasmanian post code, callers will be put through to a CIRS intake team member in Tasmania.
Calls to this number are free and discussions are confidential.
How will the CIRS help Tasmanians?
When people feel they need mental health support, they don’t always know where to start – especially if it’s the first time they’ve felt this need.
There is a wide range of mental health services available across Tasmania, providing different levels of care. Some options are free, some have a cost; some need a referral or mental health plan, some don’t. There are in-person services, telehealth services, phone lines, and online support. Compounding the complexity is the problem of waiting times and getting support while waiting.
This can all be difficult to navigate.
While people are always encouraged to talk to their GP about their health concerns, this isn’t always possible. They might not have a regular GP, or may need help before they can get an appointment.
The CIRS makes it easier for people to find the mental health service that is right for them. It provides a streamlined assessment and referral process which will be a simpler and quicker experience for the consumer. And use of the Initial Assessment and Referral (IAR) tool (see below) by GPs and the CIRS intake team will increase the likelihood that people will be connected to the level of care and provider that’s most appropriate for them at any given time.
The CIRS will also help Tasmanians by supporting their care team (see below).
How will it help health professionals?
GPs and other health professionals may find it challenging to find appropriate mental health services for their patients.
Health professionals can call 1800 595 212 and talk to the CIRS team. The IAR tool is used to assess patients’ needs and connect them to an appropriate mental health service.
GPs can also make an eReferral to the service.
The CIRS intake team can help save time for busy GPs, while making it possible for them to continue to coordinate their patients’ care.
Health professionals who have been providing mental health care for a patient can also use the CIRS team to step their patient up or down to other levels of care.
What is the IAR tool?
The IAR (initial assessment and referral) tool is a digital decision aid for GPs and other health professionals.
This free online tool aims to standardise the assessment of people seeking mental health support in primary healthcare settings.
The IAR tool has been developed to support a stepped care model, where a person presenting to the health system is matched to the least intensive level of care that most suits their current treatment need.
More information about IAR, including free training for GPs and other health professionals, is available here.
How does the CIRS fit into Tasmania’s mental health plan?
The CIRS and the IAR tool are key activities within Rethink 2020 – Tasmania’s strategic plan for mental health.
