The Mental Health Service for People with Intellectual Disability (MHS-ID) is a specialist short-term assessment and consultation service which aims to improve the clinical outcomes for people with intellectual disability and co-occurring mental illness.

About this service

We are a multidisciplinary team who provide assessment and treatment to people with an intellectual disability and a known or suspected mental illness/disorder.

The service also provides consultation liaison and specialist mental health expertise to GP’s, other mental health teams (in-patient and community-based mental health services), other treating practitioners, families/carers and support persons.

Who we care for

We care for people with intellectual disability, aged 17 and over and residing in the ACT, who have a known or suspected mental illness/disorder.

How to access this service

You need a referral to access our service. We accept referrals from:

• self-referrals
• GPs and specialist medical teams
• treating therapists/ practitioners
• families and carers
• support persons
• schools
• NDIS support workers
• other mental health teams.

What to expect

When a referral is received, an MHS-ID clinician will contact you for a phone assessment to ascertain the presenting concerns, and to determine if we are the most appropriate service to meet the needs of the person with an intellectual disability.

Our clinicians will ask questions about the person’s current mental and physical health, current and baseline functioning, the reason for referral to MHS-ID, previous mental health service involvement or supports they have received, and any challenges they are experiencing.

If the person you are referring does not meet the service criteria for specialist mental health assessment and treatment, we will make recommendations for alternative supports and services that may be more suitable.

Please note that MHS-ID does NOT provide the following services:

• assessment/medication advice for ADHD in the absence of other referral criteria
• emergency or crisis intervention
• ongoing management/case management
• IQ or ASD assessments
• routine reviews for the purpose of NDIS or for clients who are stable
• ongoing psychiatric management.

What to bring to your appointment

• We will let you know what to bring when we make your appointment.

Where we’re located

Gungahlin Community Health Centre.

We have directions and transport information for this service.