High - Mental health recovery information for service providers in country SA

People experiencing significant mental health impacts or who require immediate support.

If you feel a person's safety is at immediate risk: dial 000 (Triple Zero)

For mental health emergencies: Mental Health Triage Service 13 14 65, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Specialist mental health services may be needed if a person requires longer term therapeutic interventions as a result of more acute and/or enduring mental health impacts of a disaster.

People who may benefit from this level of support are people:

  • experiencing an exacerbation of a pre-existing mental health condition as a result of the impact of the major incident
  • experiencing posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, complicated grief, anxiety or substance abuse. Proper clinical assessment is required before treatment
  • with an increased risk of self-harm or suicide
  • with existing links with community mental health services
  • whose mental health needs are not able to be met through alternative support services
  • experiencing significant distress and anxiety most of the time which is not resolving
  • experiencing significant difficulty engaging in normal daily activities which is impacting on their health and wellbeing
  • who might be using coping strategies that have an adverse impact on their mental health and wellbeing such as substance misuse and risky behaviours.

For mental health emergencies

Mental Health Triage Service 13 14 65

  • Available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
  • A trained mental health clinician will be able to assist with determining what interventions would be most appropriate. The person experiencing difficulty is encouraged to contact this service directly too.

Examples of a mental health emergency

  • if you, or the person, have concerns about the their safety including an increased risk of self-harm and/or thoughts about suicide
  • concerns about the person’s behaviour, safety and welfare have escalated and require more immediate attention, and the person’s needs are not able to be met through other support systems (eg. GP or other local services).

Adults - support services and referral pathways

Support services

Adult Community Mental Health Services provide multidisciplinary person-centred care for people experiencing mental health difficulties. These services are accessible for people with diverse needs, including people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The type of services provided can include:

  • specialist assessment
  • specialist mental health support and treatment (including medication and other therapeutic interventions)
  • case management
  • providing support in partnership with other services
  • linking people with psychosocial support programs.

Referral pathways

For further information contact the Community Mental Health Service in your region.

Lower north

Clare
Telephone: (08) 8841 3500

Inner North

Gawler / Barossa
Telephone: (08) 8521 2080

Kangaroo Island

Kingscote
Telephone: (08) 8553 4231

Adelaide Hills

Mount Barker
Telephone: (08) 8393 1833

Murray Mallee

Murray Bridge
Telephone: (08) 8535 6800

North West

Port Augusta
Telephone: (08) 8668 7788

Eyre Peninsula

Port Lincoln
Telephone: (08) 8683 2083

Ceduna
Telephone: (08) 8626 2108

Mid North

Port Pirie / Peterborough
Telephone: (08) 8638 1100

Riverland

Berri
Triage: (08) 8580 2445
Telephone: (08) 8580 2525

South East

Mount Gambier / Bordertown / Naracoorte / Millicent
Telephone: (08) 8721 1507

Southern Fleurieu

Victor Harbor
Telephone: (08) 8552 0600

North West

Whyalla
Telephone: (08) 8644 5130

Yorke Peninsula

Kadina / Minlaton / Maitland
Telephone: (08) 8828 1350

Children — referral pathways

Children or young people who are experiencing more acute mental health impacts following a disaster would benefit from additional support and a period of clinical intervention. For example, if the common trauma reactions to the event are not resolving and the child or young person’s ability to cope is compromised.

Referral pathways

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)

For support, information and links to appropriate services where there are significant concerns about the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people.

Telephone: (08) 8161 7198
Website: www.wch.sa.gov.au

Department for Education and Child Development Social Work Incident Support Service team (SWISS)

For support, information and links to appropriate services relating to children in child-care, pre-school, or school-aged children or young people.

More information