A new Child and Adolescent Health Service (CAHS) Emergency Telehealth Service (ETS) launched today by the McGowan Government will provide urgent support to children and young people experiencing a mental health crisis as an alternative to attending a metropolitan hospital emergency department for mental health assessment.
Run by the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS), the Emergency Telehealth Service (ETS) will provide support for young people, families and carers experiencing an urgent mental health crisis. This includes mental health advice, crisis management, assessment and referral to the most appropriate service depending on need.
With the support of specialist clinicians, it will also provide telephone consultation, advice and support to other professionals in metropolitan emergency departments and community settings including GPs, non-government mental health services and school professionals.
The ETS will also offer telehealth follow-up appointments for children and young people who have used the service during non-business hours.
The service will run from 8am to 2.30am seven days a week and can be accessed on 1800 048 636.
As stated by Mental Health Minister Roger Cook:
“The creation of a new service to assist not only our children and young people accessing mental health services, but also to provide our specialist mental health expertise to other health professionals and community-based staff, will further enhance the supports and services currently in place.
“The ETS will enable support to be provided via telehealth, direct to children when they need it most, to limit the need for them to attend an emergency department. This takes skilled clinicians right to where they are needed at the time, whether it be in a child’s home, with a GP or in a school setting.
“This service will support CAMHS clinicians to improve mental health outcomes for children and young people, by improving access to specialists and services.”
