Australians can now access free, confidential, high-quality mental health support online, with no referral or diagnosis needed, to help deal with life’s ups and downs.
The federal government, in partnership with St Vincent’s Health Australia, has launched Medicare Mental Health Check In, a free national service providing practical support for people aged 16 and over experiencing mild mental health challenges like stress, anxiety and low mood.
Each year, around one in five people experience mental health challenges in Australia, with recent data suggesting the lifetime impact is 43% of Australians (aged 16 to 85 years) or 8.5 million people.
How Medicare Mental Health Check can help
If you’re feeling down, worried, stressed, or overwhelmed, the Medicare Mental Health Check In service offers evidence-based support based on cognitive behavioural therapy, which people can complete at their own pace – working through the program independently or with support from a qualified mental health practitioner via telehealth.
The online service aims to help people build practical skills and provides tools they can use in every day, including strategies to manage worries, improve sleep, and lift their mood. It may suit people who are struggling in their day-to-day lives and would benefit from early support, rather than high-intensity care.
The program typically lasts six to eight weeks, depending on individual need and clinical judgement. Qualified mental health practitioners are trained to deliver LiCBT. They have qualifications as counsellors, social workers, psychologists, registered nurses and occupational therapists.
There are also additional resources for people looking for help, families, carers, and others wanting to support someone with their mental health.
For more information, or to find out if the service is right for you, call Medicare Mental Health on 188 595 212 (8.30am to 5pm weekdays, excluding public holidays) or visit mentalhealthcheckin.gov.au
When you call, a trained professional will listen to you, help assess your needs, and work with you to determine whether this service is suitable for you.
Medicare Mental Health Check In is based on the low-intensity service model of the United Kingdom’s (UK) Talking Therapies service, which uses proven LiCBT tools. It has been recognised globally for its clinical effectiveness and strong evidence base.
The service model is based on recommended international evidence-based clinical guidelines, such as the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care (NICE) guidelines, which sets national standards for high-quality health and care interventions. LiCBT has been shown to consistently deliver positive outcomes for people with mild anxiety and depression, as demonstrated through national implementation in the UK and other countries (e.g. Canada, USA, Denmark, and New Zealand).
Call Medicare Mental Health (1800 595 212) or visit mentalhealthcheckin.gov.au for more information.
