Stepped Care for Older Adults: support for your mental health

A smiling older man.
  3 May 2022  Merri Health   

Free tailored support to help older adults meet their mental health and wellbeing goals.

What is it?

Stepped Care for Older Adults is a mental health support program for adults aged 65+ (50+ for people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander).

It is a free and confidential service that provides professional mental health support to older adults with mild to moderate mental illness or at risk of developing a mental illness due to social isolation, loneliness, or life stressors.

Services we provide include psychosocial group program and clinical group program, assessment of mental and physical health needs, one-on-one consultations to address mental health concerns, social prescription to promote community connectedness, and facilitated access to support linkages to other health and wellbeing services.

Who can use this service?

People who:

  • are aged 65 years and over (50 years and over for people who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
  • live in Hume, Moreland, Darebin, Yarra, Gisborne, Melton, Brimbank, Melbourne, Maribyrnong, Hobsons Bay, Wyndham, Moonee Valley, or Bacchus Marsh
  • are willing participants of the program
  • have a mild to moderate mental illness or are at risk of developing a mental illness.

Cost

It’s free.

Do I need a referral?

No. You can self-refer by calling 1300 637 744 and ask to speak to the Stepped Care team.

Alternatively, you can be referred by a GP, Aged Care Assessment Service, Regional Assessment Service, local public mental health service, or another registered health professional via our referral form.

The referral can be faxed to (03) 9495 2599.

If you have someone that you would like to refer to the program or you’d simply like to find out more information, please contact us on 1300 637 744 or email at SteppedCare@merrihealth.org.au


This service is funded by North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network.