Mental health service for city

NEAMI National has been appointed as the lead provider for the Townsville Head to Health.

The program, funded by the Northern Queensland Primary Health Network through the Australian Government’s PHN program, will help people over the age of 18 access mental health support.

Residents in Townsville and surrounding areas will be welcomed through the ‘ no wrong door’ approach, and supported to receive help appropriate to their needs. The centre will assist to address some of the current gaps existing for people experiencing high levels of distress or suicidal crisis and will reduce the number of emergency department presentations by providing a more accessible entry point to the mental health system.

NQPHN chief executive officer Robin Whyte said it had aimed to find a provider with local experience and a robust plan to engage with the Townsville community.

“We were so pleased by the enthusiasm and interest shown by the market throughout this process and are honoured to be working with Neami National to bring this important mental health support service to Townsville,” Ms Whyte said.

Neami National Queensland state manager Karen Thomas said working with NQPHN and community partners allows them to offer something new to benefit visitors to the service and the wider community.

“Collaborating with Richmond Fellowship Queensland, Lives Lived Well, Townsville Multicultural Support Group, and the broader community will be the foundation to delivering a new way to access safe, welcoming, and inclusive mental health support for the people of Townsville,” Ms Thomas said.

The new service is scheduled to open in late 2021 and will be located in a prominent facility in the Townsville CBD.