What Is a Public Mental Health Service?

Public mental health services are provided without charge and are available to people with a serious mental illness. They include:

• Community mental health centres which see people on a regular basis, often by appointment.
• Mobile psychiatric crisis assessment and treatment services which assist when a person is experiencing a psychiatric crisis.
• Mobile support and treatment services which see people who need frequent contact, often in the person's own living environment.
• Psychiatric inpatient facilities located at either a psychiatric hospital or general hospital.
• Disability support services which provide psychosocial rehabilitation programs and accommodation support.

If you require assistance, it is best to make your first contact with the community mental health centre in your area.

The community mental health centre staff will decide with you, at the initial contact, whether the public mental health service can assist you. Sometimes the staff provide direct help or they may suggest you see another service that will provide the help you need.