Adult Community Mental Health

What we do

Our Adult Community Mental Health team provides comprehensive mental health assessment, treatment and support to adult patients aged 25 to 65 years living in the Bendigo region.

Our team provides case management, assessment, family support and pharmaceutical interventions. We work in partnership with you, your family and the community to reduce the impact of mental illness, improve quality of life and to promote recovery. We aim to be accessible to all and sensitive to the diversity of our community. We have a multidisciplinary team, including psychiatrist and psychiatry registrars, mental health nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, peer support workers, housing worker, employment worker and carer consultant.

A range of interventions are likely to be required as part of your treatment and recovery phase of which case management is a key function. The lead clinicians coordinate services, facilitate implementation of the treatment plan and work with you, your family/carers and others in providing an integrated service response. Responses include pharmacological treatments, psychological and other therapies like psychosocial rehabilitation strategies. All interventions aim to enable recovery or maximise your functioning and independence.

Who we care for

We can offer help to people with mental health problems including schizophrenia and psychosis, bipolar disorder, personality disorder, eating disorder, severe depression and anxiety disorder.

How to access this service

Access to the service is via the Mental Health Regional Triage Service 1300 363 788. (24 hours a day, 7 days per week).

Commonly asked questions

Will I have to pay?
There is no cost for services provided at the Community Mental Health Clinics.

What if I need an interpreter?
If you require interpreter services please let your lead clinician know prior to your appointment. This is a free service.

What is case management?
Case management involves the allocation of your own dedicated lead clinician who can assist you to identify and work towards your treatment and recovery goals. Lead clinicians have knowledge of a range of community services and can refer you to any which may assist you in achieving your goals.

Kyneton
Hours of Operation: Mon-Fri 8.30am-5pm (except public holidays)
Postal Address: PO Box 1359, Kyneton, 3444
Street Address: 7-25 Caroline Chisholm Drive, Kyneton, 3444
Phone: 03 5421 2100

Castlemaine
Hours of Operation: Mon-Fri 8.30am-5pm (except public holidays)
Postal Address: PO Box 82, Castlemaine, 3450
Street Address: 142 Cornish Street, Castlemaine, 3450
Phone: 03 5471 1000

Echuca
Hours of Operation: Mon-Fri 8.30am-5pm (except public holidays)
Address: 214 Service Street, Echuca, 3564
Phone: 03 5481 0700 (please note change in phone number)
Fax: 5454 6075

Swan Hill
Hours of Operation: Mon-Fri 8.30am-5pm (except public holidays)
Postal Address: 369 Campbell Street, Swan Hill, 3585
Phone: 03 5036 1900

Maryborough
Hours of Operation: Mon-Fri 8.30am-5pm (except public holidays)
Address: 75-87 Clarendon Street, Maryborough
Phone: 03 5461 0400

John Bomford Centre

Location

155/151-155 Condon Street
Kennington, Kennington, VIC, 3550

Phone

03 5440 6529

How to refer your patient

Referrals must be made to Mental Health Regional Triage Service 1300 363 788.

It provides 24-hour access to mental health services across the region and is the single point of initial contact.

Referring persons are asked to provide the following information:

Any recent presentation/concerns and any new findings and recent medical investigations (Pathology, neurological testing/reports, Histology and Medical Imaging).

A list of current medications (if prescribed), relevant patient history, relevant family history, any other information pertinent and that may assist in decision making with patient, family/carer about their care and treatment.

Primary Mental Health to Clinical Service Overview

Our case management service provides tertiary level community-based treatment for people with more severe forms of mental illness or mental disorders, including providing support and continuing care services to people with a mental illness. The length of time case management services are provided to a person varies according to clinical need. Case management services may be involved with people for extended periods of time or may provide more episodic care.

We are an integrated multidisciplinary team who provide assertive outreach and intensive rehabilitation and support. Service inclusion is relevant to the level of impact, contextual factors and diagnosis of a mental illness such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder, severe personality disorders, eating disorders or severe depression and disabling anxiety disorders.

Service exclusions include people where substance use is the presenting concern and treatment needs can be met in the AOD setting and primary care sectors, high prevalence disorders, such as mild depressive disorders, generalized anxiety disorders and adjustment disorders where patients can be managed by MHCSS or through a Mental Health Care Plan through the GP and/or a psychologist/counsellor in the community.

A range of interventions is likely to be required as part of the treatment and recovery phase of which case management is a key function. The lead clinicians coordinate services, facilitate implementation of the treatment plan and work with the patients, families and carers in providing integrated.

We have a multidisciplinary team that includes: Psychiatrist and Psychiatry Registrar, Mental Health Nurses, Social Workers, Occupational Therapists.

Within the Bendigo Adult Community Mental Health Service Team the following programs are run: Forensic Specialist Clinician, post Discharge Peer Support Work Program, Clopine Clinic Mental Health and Response Service (MHARS).

Co-located within the same setting as BACMHT is the Primary Mental Health Team (PMHT). The PMH team offers assessment for people with non-urgent, low risk mental health problems, those who experience anxiety, depression, an eating disorder or a related mental health problem.

PMHT also provides advice and consultation to other services such as GPs to support them in the care they deliver.

The GP support clinic
The GP clinic runs weekly at JBC. This clinic is to support GP’s who are wanting a Psychiatrist opinion in relation to either diagnostic clarification, medication or direction in the management of patients. This is a one off appointment.

Annual Review Clinic
The ARC runs twice a month for past patients of the service. This clinic is held by a Psychiatrist who will provide recommendations back to the GP in relation to ongoing patient care.

All referrals for the above programs are via Regional Triage Service (RTS) and need an accompanying GP letter of referral.

Regional Services

Kyneton
Hours of Operation: Mon-Fri 8.30am-5pm (except public holidays)
Postal Address: PO Box 1359, Kyneton, 3444
Street Address: 7-25 Caroline Chisholm Drive, Kyneton, 3444
Phone: 03 5421 2100

Castlemaine
Hours of Operation: Mon-Fri 8.30am-5pm (except public holidays)
Postal Address: PO Box 82, Castlemaine, 3450
Street Address: 142 Cornish Street, Castlemaine, 3450
Phone: 03 5471 1000

Echuca
Hours of Operation: Mon-Fri 8.30am-5pm (except public holidays)
Address: 214 Service Street, Echuca, 3564
Phone: 03 5481 0700 (please note change in phone number)
Fax: 5454 6075

Swan Hill
Hours of Operation: Mon-Fri 8.30am-5pm (except public holidays)
Postal Address: 369 Campbell Street, Swan Hill, 3585
Phone: 03 5036 1900

Maryborough
Hours of Operation: Mon-Fri 8.30am-5pm (except public holidays)
Address: 75-87 Clarendon Street, Maryborough
Phone: 03 5461 0400

 

 

John Bomford Centre

Location

155/151-155 Condon Street
Kennington, Kennington, VIC, 3550

Phone

03 5440 6529