People across Australia aged 16 and above can now access free and confidential online mental health support through Medicare Mental Health Check In, a fully funded Australian Government service delivered in partnership with St Vincent’s Health Australia.

The service is designed to help people who may be experiencing early signs of mental health concerns, including ongoing stress, worry, tiredness, low energy or poor sleep. It aims to provide practical tools to help people manage these challenges before they become more serious.

Who can access the service?

Medicare Mental Health Check In is available to:

• Anyone living in Australia aged 16 years or older
• People seeking support for stress, worry, sleep difficulties and related concerns
• People who do not have a formal mental health diagnosis
• People who do not have a referral from a doctor or other health professional

There is no cost and no referral or diagnosis is required to access the service.

How to access Medicare Mental Health Check In

People interested in the service can call Medicare Mental Health on 1800 595 212 and speak with a trained professional.

The professional will discuss the caller’s needs and determine whether Medicare Mental Health Check In is suitable. If it is considered appropriate, the caller will be connected with the service.

The call is:

• Free
• Confidential
• Conducted with a trained professional
• Completely controlled by the caller
• Available without a referral or diagnosis

Callers can choose how much information they wish to share and can end the conversation at any time.

Support available in multiple languages

The service is also designed to improve access for people from multicultural backgrounds.

Interpreters are available in more than 150 languages during calls and program sessions. The Medicare Mental Health Check In website also provides translated information in 10 languages, including:

• Arabic
• Simplified Chinese
• Traditional Chinese
• Filipino
• Greek
• Hindi
• Italian
• Punjabi
• Spanish
• Vietnamese

How the six-week program works

Medicare Mental Health Check In provides structured programs that generally run for around six weeks.

The programs use evidence-based tools to help participants develop practical skills to:

• Manage everyday stress and worry
• Improve sleep
• Develop strategies for dealing with mental health challenges
• Monitor their progress
• Apply practical techniques in their daily lives

Participants can complete the program online at their own pace or receive additional support from a qualified mental health practitioner by phone or video.

For those who choose practitioner support, regular appointments provide an opportunity to track progress and discuss how the skills learned through the program can be applied in everyday life.

Early support can make a difference

Mental health difficulties do not always begin with severe symptoms. Changes such as persistent tiredness, low energy, disrupted sleep or increased worry can gradually affect a person’s daily life.

Seeking support at an early stage can help people understand what they are experiencing and learn strategies to manage these changes.

Psychiatrist and Medical Director of Hirondelle Private Hospital, Dr Kin Chiam, said people in multicultural communities sometimes dismiss signs such as ongoing worry, exhaustion and poor sleep as simply the result of being busy.

“But changes like these can be a sign that someone needs to focus on their mental health.”

Dr Chiam said the service could be particularly useful for people balancing work, family and other responsibilities.

“This service makes it easier for individuals managing multiple responsibilities, such as caring for family or working full-time, to access free support.”

Accessibility support

People can contact Medicare Mental Health on 1800 595 212 between 8:30am and 5:00pm on weekdays, excluding public holidays.

Additional support is available for people with hearing or speech difficulties:

• TTY: 1800 555 677
• Speak and Listen: 1800 555 727
• National Relay Service: available for eligible users
• Additional accessibility assistance, including for people living with disability, is available on request.

Where to find more information

More information about Medicare Mental Health Check In is available at www.mentalhealthcheckin.gov.au, including details about the program and translated resources.

People can access translated resources through the service’s Other Languages section.

Not a crisis service

Medicare Mental Health Check In is intended for non-crisis mental health support and is not an emergency or crisis service.

If someone is in immediate danger, they should call 000. For urgent emotional support, Lifeline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 13 11 14.