What is an accredited Mental Health Occupational Therapist?

The Better Access to Mental Health (BAMH) initiative enables community access to mental health professionals and team-based mental health care, through more collaborative relationships between general practitioners and psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, psychologists and social workers and occupational therapists.

You need a Mental health Care Plan from your GP to access this service. An accredited Mental Health OT is required to have the appropriate level of mental health practice experience to be eligible to apply for Better Access to Mental Health endorsement and is also required to be a member of the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia to maintain their endorsement. For further information see https://otaus.com.au/

What are the Benefits with working with a Mental Health Occupational Therapist?

Can participants of the NDIS access your service?

NDIS Providers are an important part of the NDIS, delivering supports and services that help participants pursue their goals. Providers can be registered with the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission (NDIS Commission) or unregistered. I am currently unregistered and will therefore only provide services to participants who have NDIS plans that are self-managed or plan managed (not Agency managed). You will need an NDIS plan to access funding for Occupational Therapy services.

To confirm whether you have sufficient funds in your plan, please discuss this with your support coordinator, local area coordinator or plan manager. I currently specialise in providing support to

participants with a psycho-social disability (mental health conditions). To apply for an NDIS plan or for further information on psychosocial disabilities and the NDIS please see Mental health and the NDIS | NDIS

What is a Mental Health Care Plan?

A mental health care plan is a plan your doctor writes with you about treating a mental health condition. It helps you to access eligible allied health professionals like psychologists, social workers or occupational therapists who can help you to get better and live well. Your mental health treatment plan will have goals agreed by you and your doctor. It’ll also have; treatment options and support services available. A mental health treatment plan lets you claim up to 20 sessions with a mental health professional each calendar year.

To start with, your doctor or psychiatrist will refer you for up to 6 sessions at a time. If you need more, they can refer you for further sessions. Health professionals set their own fees, so we may only cover some of the cost. Ask how much you’ll pay and what you’ll get back from us when you make your appointment. If they bulk bill, you won’t have to pay anything. If you have private health insurance, you may be able to get some money back. You can check with your insurer. For more information about mental health care plans - https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/mental-health-care-and-medicare

How do I pay for the service

I accept clients with NDIS plans and Mental Health Care Plans (a co-payment applies). I also accept clients who are self-funded. If you have private health insurance, you will need to pay upfront and submit a claim with your private health fund. Please confirm with your private health fund prior to the referral, whether you are eligible to access Occupational Therapy.

How many sessions will I need?

In my experience as an Occupational Therapist, the duration and frequency of therapy provided will be dependent on the complexity of a person’s condition, factors impacting on your ability to respond to therapy (such as medication side effects or cognitive impairment), personal goals and readiness (or motivation) for therapy. Therefore, determining how many sessions you need, is best determined following an initial assessment. To allow sufficient time for the initial assessment, to build rapport, set clear goals and to develop a basic set of coping strategies, I would generally suggest 8 – 10 sessions.

Clients with a mental health treatment plan can access up to 6 sessions on an initial plan and up to 10 following a review. This has been increased to 20 sessions per calendar year during the pandemic. For further information see - https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/mental-health-treatment-plan.

For NDIS participants, check with your plan manager or support coordinator how much funds have been allocated for you to access Occupational Therapy.

What are your referral criteria (am I eligible to access your service)?

DIAGNOSIES / CONDITION

I specialise in providing Occupational Therapy to clients with a psycho-social disability or mental health condition. I do not specialise in providing support to clients with complex physical disabilities.

If you have an existing OT who specialises in physical disabilities and they are assisting you with your equipment and home modification needs, I can work alongside them and focus on therapy goals related to your mental health. I can also refer you to an Occupational Therapist to assist with your physical disability, if you are not currently accessing one.

AGE RANGE

I see clients of all ages. I have some paediatric experience; however, I am not specialising in this field and may refer you to an OT that specialises in Paediatrics.

READINESS

Please consider whether you are ready or able to attend regular sessions (frequency may be weekly to fortnightly initially). In the same way that you may take prescribed medication at specific times and in specific dosages for it to be effective, you will need to attend therapy at the agreed timeframes (regularly) to get the most out of it.

What if I only want a functional assessment and a report?

I accept referrals for once-off assessments and reports however my skills are best used by clients who wish to participate in ongoing therapy to improve their quality of life.

How do I contact you?

Please read through the information on the website regarding the services I provide. There is a referral form on the website to complete, should you wish to attend an assessment or therapy. I am a sole practitioner and currently do not have administrative staff and employed part-time thus may not always be contactable. I have therefore provided comprehensive information on the website to answer potential enquiries you may have. For unanswered questions please email info@smhot.com.au.

What if I feel unwell and need mental health support immediately?

• If you are experiencing a mental health emergency, please call “000” or go to your nearest hospital - emergency department.

• Suicide Call Back Service - 1300 659 467.

Where I can I access free telephone counselling or mental health support?

Services for general distress, feeling alone, general counselling and mental health resources:

• Lifeline - 131114

• Beyond Blue - 1300 22 4636 / Beyond Blue Webchat (Beyond Blue Webchat Support Service)

• Welcome to Head to Health | Head to Health

• FriendLine - 1800 424 287

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Mental Health Support:

• Proppa Deadly | Murri Country (triplea.org.au)

• Indigenous - The Trauma and Grief Network (TGN) (anu.edu.au)

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people - Beyond Blue

• The Invisible Discriminator - Beyond Blue

• Smiling Mind - Uncle Jack Charles Mindfullness - Uncle Jack Charles guided meditation - Uncle Jack Charles guided meditation - All resources - WellMob

Grief and loss:

• Grief Helpline - 1300 845 745

Young people:

• Youth Beyond Blue - 1300 22 4636

• Headspace (for young people) https://headspace.org.au/online-and-phone-support

Related to trauma or abuse:

• Home | 1800RESPECT or 1800 737 732

• Blue Knot - 1800 421 468 or National Counselling and Referral Service - Disability (blueknot.org.au)

• About - The Trauma and Grief Network (TGN) (anu.edu.au)

Substance use/ addiction:

• Counselling Online - free drug and alcohol counselling in Australia

• Gambling Help Online - Free gambling support in Australia or 1800 858 858

Eating Disorders:

• Butterfly Foundation Helpline - Butterfly Foundation or 1800 33 4673

LGBTQI:

• QLife website or 1800 184 527

Parenting, carers and relationships:

• PANDA Perinatal Anxiety and Depression Australia - 1300 726 306

• Parenting helpline https://www.parentline.org.au/ or 1300 1300 52

• Poisons Helpline https://www.poisonsinfo.nsw.gov.au/ or 131126

• Relationships Australia https://relationships.org.au/ or 1300 364 277

• Carers Australia https://www.carersaustralia.com.au/ or 1800 422 737

• Illawarra Carers Program https://www.islhd.health.nsw.gov.au/services-clinics/carers-program/carer-program-resources

• Staying connected when emotions run high workshops: https://www.islhd.health.nsw.gov.au/services-clinics/family-and-carer-mental-health-program-0/staying-connected-when-emotions-run-high

Multicultural Mental Health Support:

• Welcome | Embrace Multicultural Mental Health (embracementalhealth.org.au)

Veterans Mental Health Support:

• Open Arms Counselling | Open Arms or 1800 011 046

Men’s Help Line:

• Free help, support, referrals & counselling for men: MensLine Australia or 1300 78 99 

Personality Disorders:

• Personality disorders | Head to Health

• Project Air (Resources re Borderline Personality Disorder) Contact us - University of Wollongong – UOW

• Staying connected when emotions run high workshops https://www.islhd.health.nsw.gov.au/services-clinics/family-and-carer-mental-health-program-0/staying-connected-when-emotions-run-high

• https://dbtselfhelp.com

Natural Disasters:

• https://www.nsw.gov.au/floods/mental-health-support

• NSW Rural Adversity Mental Health Program https://www.nsw.gov.au/news/mental-health-support-for-bushfire-affected-communities referrals via the Access and Referral Centre - 1800 011 511

Pandemic related mental health support:

• https://www.health.gov.au/health-alerts/covid-19/support/mental-health

• Supporting you through the Coronavirus pandemic - Beyond Blue

• Additional 10 MBS Mental Health Sessions during COVID-19–FAQs for consumers | Australian Government Department of Health

For further information about the above helplines:

• https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/mental-health-helplines

• National help lines and websites - Beyond Blue