New youth mental health service opens in Great Southern

A $22 million mental health crisis care initiative has expanded to Albany and surrounding communities, with the Acute Care and Response Team (ACRT) rolling out from today.

The ACRT provides rapid response and support to young people up to 18 years of age experiencing a mental health crisis, as well as their families and carers.

Children and adolescents will have access to specialist mental health support through a dedicated outreach service, delivered by teams located at the Albany Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS).

The service is available seven days a week and provides intensive support, emergency department diversion and a dedicated Acute Crisis Hotline for referrers.

On launch day, the service welcomed its first patient who was referred to the ACRT from Albany Health Campus for care and onward services.

The ACRT team consists of highly skilled professionals - including some with lived experience of using the mental health system - as well as specialist Aboriginal mental health workers who can provide cultural intervention and liaison services.

Support is extended to young people in their own homes and communities as well as phone or videocall, reducing the need to travel to a clinic or attend an appointment in a hospital setting.

The service focuses on accessibility for families and carers and provides extended operating hours outside of school and work times, including evenings and weekends, with additional support options for those who require more intensive intervention.

The service is a recommendation from the Infant, Child, and Adolescent (ICA) Taskforce.