What is available?
The Head to Health Phone Service (1800 595 212) is a free service for people who need mental health advice and support but don’t know where to start.
Funded by the Australian Government, the national phone service is particularly useful for people seeking to connect to mental health services for the first time, including those who don’t have a regular GP.
Tasmanians who call 1800 595 212 are provided with a welcome message and instructions. After entering their postcode they are connected to someone in Tasmania for locally relevant information, advice and transfer to an appropriate service.
Where a caller needs further support, the trained phone service staff will assess them using the Initial Assessment and Referral (IAR) decision support tool and then connect them to the most appropriate local mental health services to meet their identified need.
Primary Health Tasmania has contracted the Tasmanian Department of Health to deliver the Tasmanian component of the national service.
Who is eligible?
Anyone needing mental health advice or support can call this service. It can also be used by people seeking information on behalf of someone else – including family, friends, carers and health professionals.
Where is it available?
The phone service is available across Australia. Calls from Tasmania will be transferred to trained mental health professionals in Tasmania.
The phone service is available from 8.30am to 5pm on week days (except public holidays). People who call outside of these times have the option to request a call back within the service’s regular operating hours.
Who can make a referral?
No referral or appointment is needed.
How much does it cost?
This service is free.
I need help now. Where should I go?
Please note: Primary Health Tasmania does not deliver health services or crisis/emergency support.
Your regular doctor should always be your first point of call if you need medical or mental health care.
- In an emergency, call Triple 0 (000) for Ambulance, Fire or Police
- For information about health services open at night, public holidays and weekends, go to: www.tasaftershours.com or call healthdirect Australia on 1800 022 222.
The following free helplines are also available for urgent assistance:
- Access Mental Health (Tasmanian Government) 1800 332 388
- Lifeline Crisis Help 13 11 14
- Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467
- Kids Helpline 1800 551 800
- Drug and Alcohol Counselling (after hours) 1800 811 994
- Poisons Information Centre 13 11 26.