Triage
Latrobe Regional Hospital Mental Health
Services has established a single point of entry (Triage) based within the Latrobe Valley that fulfils the gatekeeping role on a regional basis.
From this location the triage clinician
can initiate action from emergency services such as police and ambulance.
Furthermore, service centres within each sector have the responsibility to
provide an Acute Assessment Team function.
Taking that first step in seeking assistance for mental
illness can be frightening.
Whether requesting assistance for themselves or someone
they care about, those touched by mental illness are often unsure of how to
go about finding help.
The first step is to telephone the Latrobe Regional Hospital’s team of experienced staff in mental health triage.
The word triage means that a person’s health needs are
assessed and categorised, so that they receive the most appropriate treatment
for their needs.
The Gippsland-wide mental health triage service operates from
Latrobe Valley Community Mental Health Service.
Those who call triage may be able to speak to someone
directly on the telephone, who will ask them to describe their situation and
their mental health history. In peak times when triage is very busy, some
callers will be required to leave a message and someone from the mental
health team will return their call.
Mental health triage is not a counselling service. Members
of the mental health triage team are trained to assess whether there is a
mental health issue that needs addressing. If there is, they determine what
the issue is and what can be done to assist. Callers will then be referred to
the most appropriate service.
Depending on the circumstances of the call, the triage team
will categorise the situation with a number between 1 (one) and five (5).
Response 1 calls require immediate emergency assistance because there is a
serious safety threat to the person or others. In this case, mental health
triage will hang up the phone and organise emergency services to attend the
scene.
The best advice that can be given to those involved in a
situation where someone is violent towards themselves or others is to ring
emergency services on 000 immediately and explain the person involved suffers
from a mental illness. Once the initial safety threat is alleviated, referral
for further assessment by mental health professionals will be organised.
A Response 2 indicates that the person is of moderate risk
to themselves or others, and response is required within one hour.
Response 3 indicates that the person involved is of
moderate risk to themselves or others and that they require attention that
day. While the risk to themselves and others is currently contained, the
triage team believes the person’s state could escalate.
Response 4 indicates the person involves is in need of
non-urgent psychiatric intervention, which delivers a response within 24
hours. Because the person involved is considered to be at low risk, the
timing of an assessment is organised with the person at a convenient time.
Response 5 is a deferred response, where no psychiatric
symptoms are evident but the person may need assistance in some other way.
Triage will refer these people to other service providers to receive the help
they need.
When the triage team decides that specialist mental health
services are needed to assist someone, a more comprehensive assessment of the
person’s mental state is provided through an intake assessment.
For those who need to speak with a counsellor, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
24 hour referral and emergency service
1300 363 322 (not available from mobile
phones)
Or 5128 0100
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