We offer assessment, care planning and interventions to people who are 65 years old or older and living in their own home (or a nursing home) who are experiencing a moderate to severe mental illness.
About this service
We are a multidisciplinary team of psychiatrists, nurses and allied health staff. We offer services to older people experiencing moderate to severe symptoms of, or impacts from, their mental illness or suspected mental illness.
We work in collaboration with your GP, sharing information with them, and aim to transition your mental health care to your GP when it’s appropriate to do so.
If you are experiencing (or suspected of experiencing) a moderate to severe mental illness, we:
- will offer you an assessment
- provide you with a care plan that is shared with your GP, and
- may offer you short term follow up.
- If you are experiencing severe and complex mental illness, you may receive the additional offer of ongoing, longer term support.
Who we care for
We care for ACT residents, or people living in the ACT, who are 65 years or older. There is some flexibility to this age criteria including:
- Aboriginal people (50 years)
- People with younger onset of ageing such as:
- A diagnosed neurodegenerative disorder (such as dementia, Parkinson’s Disease, Huntington’s Disease)
- Those living in a nursing home.
Medicare card holders can access this service for free.
Non-Medicare card holders will be billed for this service.
How to access this service
You can refer yourself to this service by:
- Phoning (02) 5124 1980
- Emailing OPMHCT@act.gov.au
If the severity of your mental illness is such that a specialist mental health services would not usually be involved, you will be referred elsewhere, such as to your GP for initial treatment. If you require support to link with a less intensive service, we can support you with that.
What to expect
Once we have received your referral, we aim to do a quick assessment over the phone to identify the presence and extent of your mental illness. To do this we speak to you as well as the person who referred you and any other significant people involved in your care, such as your GP, nursing home staff, specialists, carers or family.
From this quick assessment, if it appears you are experiencing a moderate to severe mental illness, you will then be offered a more in-depth face-to-face assessment.
We will work with you to develop a care plan that is shared with your GP. This is a list of recommendations for you and your GP to follow up on that aims to improve your symptoms and situation.
Often, your mental health care will then be transitioned to your GP for ongoing follow up. Occasionally, if you are experiencing more severe and complex mental health symptoms or situations, you may be re-offered support from our team.
The overall aim is for a positive change in your situation that enables you to:
- live as independently from specialist mental health services as possible and
- transition to a lower level of care, such as your GP, at the appropriate time.
What to bring to your appointment
- Medicare card
- Any letters or correspondence from your GP
- List of medicines you are currently taking (or the boxes), including medicines you have bought without a prescription, such as herbal supplements and vitamins
Where we’re located
Brindabella Outpatient’s Centre, University of Canberra Hospital.
We have directions to University of Canberra Hospital.
