Low-intensity services are aimed at early intervention for people who are experiencing life stress, or are at risk of or experiencing mild to moderate mental ill health.

These services can be accessed through online, telephone, face-to-face or as group services.

Low-intensity services don’t require a referral and people can access the services as they need them. However if the severity of a person’s illness increases then a GP can review their needs to potentially access more intense supports.

This will provide psychological therapies for individuals who may not otherwise be able to access services.

Services will be provided by qualified mental health professionals. These services may be delivered by a range of mental health workers, including clinical psychologists, GPs, mental health nurses, psychiatrists, or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social & emotional wellbeing
workers.

Primary mental health care services for people with severe mental illness will provide clinical care coordination for people with a diagnosed mental illness that is ongoing and significantly impacts on their social, personal and work life.

Care coordination is provided by a mental health nurse credentialed with the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses or equivalent and may involve
consulting with primary and acute care providers, emergency services, family and other agencies to improve integration of services with the aim of improving clinical outcomes.

This service will improve the follow up care by providing outreach and follow-up to individuals directly after a suicide attempt. The focus is on connecting people to existing health, clinical and community based support.

Referrals for this service will most often be made by acute care or emergency departments. People will be accessing services which may be provided by vocationally qualified mental health workers, or qualified lived experience practitioners.

Members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community will be able to access culturally appropriate care coordination and mental health services. These will be provided by culturally competent mental health professionals.

Opportunities for referral into the service may include self-referral, general practice or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health services.

Services will address the needs of clients with different care requirements – from low-care to high-care.

Care coordination may involve working in partnership with primary and acute care providers, emergency services, family, community and other agencies to improve integration of services with the aim of improving clinical outcomes.

Child and youth services will deliver youth-specific care coordination and mental health services for people under 25 years.

Services are provided by qualified mental health professionals with experience and accreditation in working with children and youth. These may include clinical psychologists, mental health nurses, psychiatrists, social workers, or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social & emotional wellbeing workers.

Referral pathways include general practice, headspace centres, or early youth psychosis centre. Care coordination may involve working in partnership with primary and acute care providers, family, school, employers and other agencies to improve integration of services with the aim of improving clinical outcomes.

Partners in Recovery (PIR) helps people living with a mental illness find a support team or service that’s right for them.

PIR aims to support people with a severe and persistent mental illness who are experiencing complex needs. Our Support Facilitators aim to link people in with services and supports based on their needs and coordinate these services and supports. PIR also work to support the carers and families by putting them in touch with different local services for support and helping everyone to connect, collaborate and integrate.

PIR is supported in its activities through the Strategic Partners Group, Consumer Partner Group and Carer Partner Group. The PIR service is offered in each of the three PHN regions; Sunshine Coast, Wide Bay and Central Queensland and PIR accepts both self referrals and referrals from health practitioners, as long as the health practitioner has the consent of the client.

•  Wide Bay | Partners in Recovery 
•  Referral form for Wide Bay PIR [PDF] 

•  Sunshine Coast and Gympie | Partners in Recovery 
•  Referral form for Sunshine Coast and Gympie PIR [PDF] 

•  Central Queensland | Partners in Recovery 
•  Referral form for Central Queensland PIR [PDF] 

• RANZP Guidelines for Clinical Practice 
• General Practice Mental Health Standards 
• Queensland Plan for Mental Health
• A_Z of Mental Health Publications 
• Mental Health Triage Guide
• GP Mental Health Care Plan Templates 
• eMental Health – A guide for GP’s  – The RACGP has developed e-Mental health: A guide for GPs to assist you in using e-mental health interventions with your patients when it is safe to do so. The Guide is designed to provide an introduction to the field of e-mental health, direct you to key online resources for you and your patients, and help you to decide how to use e-mental health in your practice.
• eMental Health in Practice 

• Mental Health Skills Training 
• Online Mental Health Training for Nurses