Increased mental health support for older adults in south east Melbourne

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on all Australians. Twenty-two per cent of households report loneliness and financial stress, while 30 per cent report moderate to high levels of depression and anxiety.

The National Mental Health and Wellbeing Pandemic Response Plan (released in May last year) identified older Australians as being particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 and therefore disproportionately impacted by physical and social distancing measures and associated loss of support from family and friends.

This new service will reach out to those at risk of, or currently experiencing, mental ill-health, social isolation and/or loneliness both in the community and in Residential Aged Care facilities (RACFs) as a result of COVID-19 to support their mental and physical health, and support coordinated connections to local supports, networks and services.

This will include:

• Access and linkages: assisting with identification and linkages to other services

• Care coordination (clinical and non-clinical): promoting connections to needed services and support, including helping to restore access to services and social networks where these have been disrupted by the pandemic.

• Psychological Therapy: delivering the provision of brief, evidence-based therapies appropriate to the identified needs of the older person.

• Information Provision: Providing information (with the consent of the older person) to friends, family and carers on the wellbeing of the older person.

The program will also provide additional supports through existing mental health services, including SEMPHN-funded psychological services currently offered to older people who live in RACFs.

The service starts on 1 April and is open for referrals via SEMPHN's Access & Referral by telephone: 1800 862 363 (8.30 am—4.30 pm weekdays). Anyone can refer to this service.