It will cost $39m over four years as part of a $111.8m mental health package to be delivered in the state budget on 18 June.
The NSW government will invest $39 million over four years to expand its “single front door” to provide mental health support delivered by Healthdirect.
The current single front door provides virtual GP services and the virtualKIDS Urgent Care Service. The new funding will expand the service to allow those in need of mental health support to call Healthdirect and receive assessment advice from specialist clinicians and be connected with appropriate services.
The $39 million investment is part of a $111.8 million mental health package announced by the state government this morning to be delivered in the state budget on Tuesday 18 June.
“This [single front door] initiative has been developed in consultation with carers, mental health professionals, a range of service providers, and those who may use the service,” said the government announcement.
“Last year, 124,467 emergency department visits were made for mental health. It is estimated that approximately 25% of these would have been suitable to receive support through other primary care settings.
“By providing callers with information on alternative care pathways, the establishment of a Mental Health Single Front Door will reduce avoidable ED presentations and improve patient flow across hospitals.”
NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said: “We have seen firsthand the success of the NSW Single Front Door model delivered via Healthdirect.
“The development of a Mental Health Single Front Door is a common sense decision to ensure expert mental health support is available to those who need it.”
Another $30.4 million over four years will be used to expand community mental health teams across targeted areas, including in regional NSW, working within LHD and specialty health networks, supporting those with persistent and complex mental illness.
The government has promised a workforce boost of approximately 35 additional mental health positions, which will support community outreach, allow for extended hours of service and enable more comprehensive case management.
The 35 additional mental health professionals will include five outreach mental health housing liaison positions who will work with the Department of Communities and Justice to link people at risk of or experiencing homelessness, who are accessing mental health services, to housing and help them sustain tenancies.
The St Vincent’s Health network will also be allocated five workers to establish a new assertive adult community mental health team.
Another $40 million over four years will go to the Pathways to Community Living Initiative, which is focused on supporting alternatives to long-term hospital care for people with complex needs, who have persistent mental illness. This funding will fund a complex care clinical workforce of over 25 professionals who will support patients through this program.
The Mental Health Review Tribunal will receive an additional $2.4 million over four years to enable digitisation of records, an upgrade to IT systems and an investment in a new case management system.