Resources for Practitioners
If you are a Family Violence (FV) specialist or Child & Family Services worker and a client discloses mental health issues –
- you may be able to manage these in the context of your role
- you may need to access additional resources on mental health
- you may wish to have secondary consults with an mental health practitioner
- you may need to refer your client to an mental health specialist service
Framework for trauma-informed practice Trauma-informed practice is a whole-of-system approach to support the wellbeing of those who use and work in our services. The framework was developed from consultations and feedback that included people with lived experience of trauma.
Resources for supporting a client with Mental Health issues
For information and resources about Mental Health, visit the website of Victoria’s peak body for Mental Health – Mental Health Victoria
Other general information on Mental Health:
Secondary Consults regarding Mental Health
If you need advice or support for your client you can access secondary consultations through:
- CAMHS – Child and Adult Mental Health Services (CAMHS) provides consultation to other service providers working with children and adolescents to promote early intervention and effective delivery of primary level responses for children and young people experiencing mild to moderate mental health problems.
- SEMPHN – SEMPHN partners with Monash Health and Alfred Health to provide general practitioners with free access to secondary consultations with an experienced psychiatrist.
- Forensicare – A secondary consultation involves a discussion, usually via telephone, between a Forensicare’s clinician and the referrer about a specific client. The client is not present during the consultation. The aim of the consultation discussion is to clarify pertinent issues and to provide advice about the client’s ongoing management. A secondary consultation may lead onto a primary consultation, if appropriate.
Referring clients to Mental Health services
Various Mental Health services are available in Bayside Peninsula and across Victoria that you can refer a client to:
- Child and Youth Mental Health Services – Alfred Health
- headspace – headspace Bentleigh is a free or low cost service where young people aged 12-25 can access qualified mental health professionals, GPs, drug and alcohol counsellors, and vocational service providers
- Parkdale Central Community Health Services
Support Resources Available
Available at no cost
- Someone Health – Making Mental Health Accessible Medicare bulk-billed and convenient online psychology sessions available when you want, Australia wide. You can connect with psychologists 7 days a week, including after hours. They are Medicare bulk billed, giving clients 20 free appointments every year with no out-of-pocket costs. For further information and bookings visit the website.
- Mental Health & Wellbeing Hubs – Cheltenham, Frankston and St Kilda – The pandemic has affected everyone in different ways. Even as Victoria reopens, it’s important to take care of your mental health and know that help is available near you. If you’re having a difficult time or are feeling overwhelmed, you can get support through your local Mental Health & Wellbeing Hub. Walk ins are available or phone 1300 375 330.
Privately funded support (at cost)
Cross Roads Psychology have counsellors that used to work for SECASA so they are very trauma informed in their practice. They are private but do accept clients on Mental health care plans – you may be able to apply for FSP to cover the gap. They are based in Chelsea.
Resources for Mental Health Workers
If you are a Mental Health practitioner and a client discloses that they are experiencing family violence (FV) or you believe FV is an issue, you need to be able to respond appropriately – visit our Understanding Family Violence page to learn about:
- what FV is
- how to identify FV
- how to respond within Victoria’s MARAM Framework
- understanding information sharing legislation
See also – Mental Health Guideline on Responding to Family Violence
General Mental Health Resources & Research
- Better Health
- Working Together to Support the Mental Health of People Who Have Experienced Family Violence – This Mental Health Professionals Network resource explores how mental health practitioners can work together better to support the mental health needs of those who have experienced family violence.
- Northern Area Mental Health Service Partnership Project Final Report – This report documents the history and outcomes of the NAMHS Parternship Project. The project aimed to explore ways that mental health, family violence and sexual assault services could work together to more effectively respond to women’s needs.
- Identifying and Responding to Family Violence: a guide for mental health clinicians in Victoria This Victorian Community Council Against Violence guide aims to assist mental health clinicians in identifying and responding to family violence.
- Domestic Violence and Mental Health This Australian Domestic & Family Violence Clearinghouse fact sheet explores the mental health consequences for victims of family violence.
- The Trauma-Informed Care and Practice Organisational Toolkit flyer – This flyer contains information about how to access the Trauma-Informed Care and Practice Organisational Toolkit (TICPOT). Trauma-Informed Care and Practice is an approach whereby all aspects of service delivery are organised around the recognition and acknowledgement of trauma and its prevalence, alongside awareness and sensitivity to its dynamics
- The Informing Our Practice resources are learning tools designed to support AOD and Mental Health clinicians to use the Family Violence Information Sharing Scheme (FVISS).