Adults in Port Pirie will have access to free, walk-in mental health and wellbeing support with a new Head to Health service to be established in the local community.
Head to Health provides a safe and welcoming place for adults to access mental health information, services and supports delivered by multidisciplinary teams over extended hours, without needing an appointment, GP referral or paying a fee.
Services include immediate support and follow-up for people in crisis, as well as short- to medium-term care for people with moderate to severe mental health needs.
The new service in Port Pirie builds on the network of Head to Health centres being established across South Australia. New services for adults in Mount Gambier and Northern Adelaide will be operating later this year and will be followed in 2024 by a service in Mount Barker. The existing Adelaide Urgent Mental Health Care Centre is a Head to Health partner service and is co-funded through the Head to Health program.
The Port Pirie service is fully funded by the Australian Government, with an investment of $3.5 million over 4 years through the Country South Australia Primary Health Network. The service is expected to be operational by mid next year.