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Community Based Mental
Health Care Services

Improve mental health outcomes

Improving mental health outcomes through focused therapies and support is proving valuable for Tasmanian’s accessing the Relationships Australia Tasmania (RA Tas) Community Based Mental Health Care Service (CBMHCS).

The CBMHCS supports people of all ages experiencing mild to moderate mental health concerns. The service, funded by Primary Health Tasmania is accessed via General Practitioner, Psychiatrist or Paediatrician referral, with ongoing communication between CBMHCS and the referrer being an important aspect of the program.

In order to best meet client’s needs, flexibility in the delivery of CBMHCS is key, particularly in regard to access. In addition to providing sessions in New Town, outreach sessions at Bridgewater, and more recently Oatlands, have continued to successfully meet high demand, allowing for more communities to easily access the service.

While there are a number of difficulties and mental health challenges that clients face, diagnoses of depression and anxiety are commonly noted. Indeed, Tasmania-wide the estimated population prevalence of these disorders is significant. The Tasmanian Population Health Survey (2016) found that 30% of adult Tasmanians reported having a past or present diagnosis of anxiety or depression1.

The service provided to me was very helpful and [Practitioner] was very well informed, practical and kind. – CBMHCS Participant

When talking about loneliness, in the context of mental health it is recognised that the nature of both anxiety and depression can lead people to experience feelings of isolation – either by feeling alone in their mental health struggle or by physically and emotionally withdrawing and distancing themselves from the people around them. A sense of loneliness and isolation can emerge, even for those who have previously drawn strength and happiness from being with others.

Clients show strength and resilience in facing these challenges and in seeking help to improve their wellbeing, a powerful step acknowledged by CBMHCS practitioners. By building connections with friends, family and community it is possible to reduce a sense of loneliness and perhaps hopelessness that can be pervasive when experiencing these mental health challenges.

When talking about loneliness, in the context of mental health it is recognised that the nature of both anxiety and depression can lead people to experience feelings of isolation.

  1. Department of Health and Human Services Tasmania 2016, Report on the Tasmanian Population Health Survey 2016, Hobart.