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Head to Health sites operate around Australia and offer an entry point for adults to access a range of mental health services, without needing an appointment or paying a fee. These services address fragmentation in the mental health service system and enhance local service integration to offer a seamless care pathway for consumers to receive the right level of care, at the right time, to meet their mental health needs.
In February 2023, Canberra Head to Health moved to the permanent site in the Canberra city, launched by Federal Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, Ms Emma McBride. CHN, ACT’s PHN, commissioned Think Mental Health to deliver this centre.
There was a significant increase in demand for services and increasing complexity of consumers help seeking since the launch. During the last 6 months, staffing expanded to include psychiatry, a full-time peer worker and full complement of multidisciplinary mental health clinicians. This has enabled an expansion of both wellbeing and clinical services, which have been well received by consumers and referrers alike.
The range of services offered within the Centre has further grown to address demand and identified need. Additions to clinical services include addition of a second skills group within the DBT program, along with 2 new clinical groups; Introduction to CBT and Healing from Trauma. The wellbeing services have also expanded to include a second Peer Social group (young persons), along with a Mindfulness and Relaxation group.
Over the last year, a total of 1,835 contacts to the Centre (both phone and walk-ins), of these 883 completed the Intake process (Initial Assessment and Referral (IAR) and service navigation).
The range of services offered within the Centre has further grown to address demand and identified need. Additions to clinical services include addition of a second skills group within the DBT program, along with 2 new clinical groups; Introduction to CBT and Healing from Trauma. The wellbeing services have also expanded to include a second Peer Social group (young persons), along with a Mindfulness and Relaxation group.
Over this 6-month reporting period, Head to Health has provided 85 psychiatric appointments (since late February), 90 comprehensive mental health assessments, more than 900 individual psychological sessions and provided over 1600 hours of clinical services to consumers. Wellbeing services have been provided to 34 consumers over the reporting period.
Testimonial
“I am very happy, I decided to walk into that front door and ask for help. The service has been a blessing for me. I knew I needed assistance but waiting times at private practices were long and was going to be costly. Following the intake interview, I had an appointment with a psychologist within a fortnight. Throughout those visits it was recommended to have a review with a psychiatrist and that appointment was also available within a fortnight. I am feeling hopeful that I can continue to make improvements and grow following the release of past trauma. All staff I have had contact with are friendly and professional and very approachable. I will highly recommend Head to Health to family and friends if needed.”
Client Story
Hua* (not her real name) was struggling with relationship difficulties with her husband, whom she had recently realised was emotionally abusive. She described struggling with depression, anxiety and stress associated with this relationship, as well as financial constraints, care taking for ageing and ill parents and unstable accommodation with her husband.
Hua was provided a range of resources and was invited to attend the Understanding Trauma Psychoeducation Group, as she expressed having limited understanding of trauma and its effects. She was very engaged across the 4 weeks of the group, made insightful reflections on her experiences, connected with other consumers in the group and applied the learning in her life across those weeks. Towards the end of the group, she emailed the services, reporting “I can’t thank you enough for your Trauma Group sessions. They’ve helped me so much, including this morning when I was unnecessarily dreading an incoming phone call but was able to establish why and then let the fear go!” and has since engaged in other groups the service is able to offer.
This is a great example of the value of short-term psychoeducation-based groups where consumers can learn about a psychological/mental health related topic in a safe, non-confrontational manner as it does not require the unpacking of their own trauma experiences. The group aims to educate consumers about the impact of trauma and provide brief soothing and grounding skills. They are provided with the pathways they can take to address their trauma experiences empowering them to take ownership of their experience.
