Community Mental Health Services

Acute Community Intervention Service (ACIS) is streamlined access to mental health services 24 hours a day.

Mental Health conditions are complex and have the potential to place a person at much greater risk of experiencing a range of other disorders and illnesses, they may have multiple health needs that transcend traditional service system boundaries.

The overarching goal for AWH’s Acute Care Intervention Service is early identification and ensure people can access mental health service professionals around the clock with systems and coordination in place to support them.

Adult Community Mental Health Service (ACMH) is specialist clinical assessment and ongoing care for adults.

ACMH provides specialist clinical assessment, treatment and ongoing care for adults at risk of suicide and serious mental health impacts, including alcohol and drug dependencies.

If you, or someone you know is facing mental health challenges or feelings suicide call the 24 hour triage service or attend the emergency department at your local hospital. 

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) supports children and young people, aged up to 18 years, and their families, who are experiencing emotional and mental health difficulties requiring specialist mental health support. 

CAMHS comprises specialists in child and adolescent mental health, nursing, social work, occupational therapy and psychology.  They care for young people and families through group, family or individual therapy in managing a variety of situations, for example confused thinking or hallucinations, withdrawing from usual activities, isolation, self-harm, or difficulty with relationships.  

AWH provides assessment and mental health support for families with infants and young children recognising that the social and emotional development of 0 to 3-year-olds is an important physical, emotional, and mental health development period of any child.  

With the aim of avoiding emerging mental health conditions the Mental Health team work with families to develop targeted infant mental health support.

A Victorian Government initiative the Kids Early Action Program in School (KEAPS) program is delivered by AWH Mental Health through Victorian schools.  With support of mental health professionals the program aims to provide an organised approach to the prevention and early intervention of mental health conditions. 

Working with families, carers and the education sector, evidence-based prevention and early intervention strategies feature strongly as part of a range of mental health services for the lower primary years. 

This is a community based mental health assessment and treatment service for the over 65s, and 50 years for Aboriginal People.

Support is provided by clinicians specialising in mental health concerns for older people, and working with general practitioners, family and carers develop a specific model of care within this shared arrangement.  

This service also links with the residential and inpatient mental health facilities, such as Kerferd Unit, or Nolan House who have a provision of beds for older people.  

We recognise that pregnancy and the arrival of a baby can be a mixture of joy and anxiety, and there is much to prepare for both physically and emotionally.

This service supports women and families during pregnancy and up to 12 months after through education and counselling, and co-facilitation of the “getting ahead of post-natal depression therapeutic group”

Groups available;

The Wodonga Early Motherhood Group
Albury, Wodonga and surrounding areas of Mt. Beauty, Corryong, Beechworth, Chiltern and Rutherglen.

The Wangaratta Early Motherhood Group
Wangaratta, Yarrawonga, Benalla, Mansfield, Myrtleford, Bright and surrounding areas 

This is a non-urgent multi-disciplinary team comprising nurses, occupational therapists, social workers, psychologists and psychiatrists. 

The service provides a broad range of care including treatment and management of mental health conditions, helping clients develop wellbeing and health goals, as well as early intervention.

The team also helps people connect with other mental health community support services including the mental health system and assist with the development and management of treatment plans.

This service provides on location crisis support and ongoing help after a disaster.

The AWH cross-border residents can be seriously impacted by bushfires, and other disasters this specialised rural outreach team, from the primary health service, are activated to provide trauma informed in-person support to those affected by loss, grief and the inevitable strain disaster can leave in its wake.

In recognition of this, an increase in service delivery is planned to boost mental health support across all bushfire impacted communities, providing mental health expertise for a community led recovery model. 

Specialist mental health clinicians supporting youth, aged 16-25 years, living in Vitoria and New South Wales who are experiencing or at risk of psychosis, or severe emotional and behavioural disturbances..

The service provides intensive case management, referral to other mental health services and promote all round good mental health.