Almost half of all Australians experience some form of mental health problem at some time in their life.
Mental health conditions are complex, costly and often chronic. They can impact the lives of individuals, families and communities.
Being mentally healthy is not just the absence of illness – it’s also about being socially and emotionally well.
Our work in this area is guided by our Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drugs Program Strategy.
While we do not provide clinical services ourselves, Primary Health Tasmania has commissioned primary mental health services for:
Search Our Services Portal to find out details about the mental health services we commission.
Primary Health Tasmania oversaw the establishment of the Launceston Medicare Mental Health Centre in 2021.
The Australian Government is also funding new Medicare Mental Health Centres in Burnie, Devonport and outer Hobart – and we are leading this work.
Like the existing Launceston centre, the new services will provide a safe and welcoming place for anyone to access free, quality mental health care over extended hours. Families and friends will also be able to receive information and advice.
There is no charge for services at Medicare Mental Health Centres, and appointments aren’t needed. A Medicare card is not needed, either.
The centres complement – rather than replace or duplicate – services already provided in the community, and connect people with other local services for ongoing care.
Primary Health Tasmania has commissioned Stride Mental Health to operate and deliver services from Medicare Mental Health Centres in Tasmania.
There will be a phased approach to establishment of the three new centres, with workforce and services progressively built up over time. The exact timing of the opening of the centres depends on Stride’s ability to secure appropriate premises and employ a suitable workforce, alongside other key establishment requirements. Premises have been confirmed for the Devonport centre, which is expected to open in the next few months.
In the meantime – an interim telehealth service started in late 2024 to provide telephone-based mental health support to people living in Devonport, Burnie and outer Hobart. People can call 1800 595 212 between 8.30am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.
Read more on Our Services Portal.
Primary Heath Tasmania is overseeing the establishment of two new headspace services for Tasmania – a new headspace centre on Hobart’s eastern shore and an early psychosis youth service.
When we talk about psychosocial support, we’re talking about programs and activities designed to help people with a severe mental illness increase their functioning in day-to-day life.
Primary Health Tasmania has commissioned the delivery of psychosocial support services in Tasmania. We are also working with stakeholders to identify and address barriers faced by people with mental illness when testing for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
Tasmania’s mental health Central Intake and Referral Service (CIRS) aims to make it easier for Tasmanians to find the mental health support they need.
GPs and other health professionals can use the CIRS for assistance in connecting their patients to appropriate mental health care and support.
The CIRS intake team helps assess patients’ needs and then connects them to the level of care that most suits their needs at the time. This might be a public, private or community service.
More information about the CIRS – an Australian and Tasmanian government collaboration – is available here.
Primary Health Tasmania is implementing the mental health Initial Assessment and Referral (IAR) digital decision support tool, which aims to standardise the assessment of people presenting with mental health conditions to ensure they’re matched to the care that most suits their needs at the time.
The IAR tool draws on evidence-based Australian Government guidance that aims to make it easier for clinicians to recommend the most appropriate level of care for a person seeking mental health support.
Tasmanian clinicians can access free training on IAR and use of the IAR tool to match a person’s initial mental health assessment scores to the most appropriate level of care, helping to inform the referral process.
More information about IAR is available here.
Primary Health Tasmania is undertaking a project aimed at improving Tasmanians’ experience of and outcomes from the mental health services we commission.
The Mental Health Continuum of Care Project involves gathering information and feedback about our current service model to help inform a new commissioning model focused on improved coordination and integration.
Read more here.
Primary Health Tasmania, along with the Tasmanian Department of Health and the Tasmanian Health Service, has partnered with the Mental Health Council of Tasmania, the National Disability Insurance Agency, Flourish and Mental Health Families and Friends Tasmania to develop a new approach to mental health service planning and delivery.
The result is Rethink 2020, which comes five years after the Tasmanian Government published its plan to improve mental health outcomes for all Tasmanians: Rethink Mental Health Better Mental Health and Wellbeing – A Long-Term Plan for Mental Health in Tasmania 2015-25.
Rethink 2020 takes stock of key milestones achieved so far – such as progress towards mental health integration hubs, improved youth mental health support in the north west, and the launch of a mental health peer workforce strategy – while also elevating new areas of focus as key mental health priorities for the state.
eMental health refers to the use of the web and other communication technologies to provide mental health services and support, such as online support groups, podcasts and apps.
The eMHPrac – e-mental health in practice – project is an Australian Government initiative that aims to raise practitioner awareness and knowledge of digital mental health by providing training and support.
The Medicare Mental Health website also provides comprehensive information and collated resources for health professionals and consumers alike.
Tasmania is the first state to adopt the National Communications Charter — a unifying resource for mental health, suicide prevention, government, business, and community organisations. On a local level, the Tasmanian Communications Charter champions a safe and stigma-free approach to talking about suicide that is consistent across various branches of the community.
Primary Health Tasmania is signatory to the Tasmanian Communications Charter.
You can find out more about it here.
Primary Health Tasmania does not offer health services, crisis, or emergency support.
Your regular general practitioner/doctors surgery should always be your first point of call if you need medical or mental health care
In an emergency, call Triple 0 (000) for Ambulance, Fire or Police.
For health advice on health services open at night, public holidays and weekends, visit the Tas After Hours website.
The following helplines are also available for urgent assistance: