Mental Health - MindCare
MindCare is a mental health program provided by Perth Primary Care Network and funded by the Commonwealth Government. The program provides short-term, affordable counselling to patients with a mental health diagnosis and who are unable to access private services via Medicare. The MindCare Program however is not a crisis support/emergency or after-hours service and there may be a short waiting period.
What does the service offer your patients?
The MindCare program provides financially disadvantaged patients with the opportunity to access 6 sessions of counselling (with an option of a further six if required) with a Mental Allied Health Professional. The patient will pay between $0-$25 per session depending on their financial circumstances, as outlined below:
- $25 per session – Standard Fee
- $15 per session – Health Care Card Holder / Centrelink Income Recipient
- $5 per session – Unwaged
- $0 per session – Genuine Severe Financial Hardship
Patient Referral Criteria
The patient groups eligible for the MindCare Program are “all patients with a mental health disorder, including those with co-morbidity, who present in the general practice setting”.
The following disorders can be treated under this initiative:
- Alcohol and drug use disorders
- Conduct disorders
- Bereavement disorders
- Bipolar disorders
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Perinatal Depression
- Psychotic disorder
- Unexplained somatic disorder
The program excludes tobacco use disorders, suicidal patients or those in crisis/emergency, patients with chronic conditions requiring long term counselling, after hours appointments, home visits or couple and family counselling.
For further information please contact the MindCare Coordinator on 9376 9200
