This month’s featured service is Medicare Mental Health Check In, a free digital support service to help people build practical skills and take better care of their mental health and wellbeing.
“We know the importance of early intervention… Medicare Mental Health Check In has been designed with mental health professionals and those with lived experience to provide the right support.”
– Assistant Minister McBride
About Medicare Mental Health Check In
The Australian Government has established Medicare Mental Health Check In, a new digital early intervention service offering free digital mental health support for people 16 years and older who may be feeling down, overwhelmed or want to take better care of their mental health and wellbeing. The service designed with a focus on providing a safe, evidence-based, person-centred early intervention service to support people through life’s challenges. It’s completely free for anyone living in Australia, with no referral or diagnosis needed.
Medicare Mental Health Check In offers Low-intensity Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (LiCBT) delivered by qualified mental health practitioners via telehealth. It also offers evidence-based online tools for people who are willing and able to try self-guided support. The service aims to empower patients and build resilience by teaching skills to help them manage their thoughts, feelings and behaviours. LiCBT is accessible, flexible and scalable and has consistently been shown to deliver positive outcomes for people with mild anxiety and depression, including through national programs in the UK and other counties.
The service currently offers six programs focused on:
To access Medicare Mental Health Check In, people can call Medicare Mental Health on 1800 595 212 (between 8:30am and 5pm weekdays, except public holidays) to find out if the service is right for their needs. If the service is not suitable people will be supported to access other services and supports.
For those seeking practitioner guided support, each program takes around six weeks to complete with 6-8 telehealth sessions with a qualified mental health practitioner, delivered through a secure online portal. Telehealth appointments are available from Monday to Friday (8am to 8pm), and weekends and public holidays (10am to 4pm).
When undertaken with guided support, a trained Medicare Mental Health Check In practitioner will check in regularly (via telehealth), support the user to stay on track with the program, and assist them in applying the strategies to their own situations. These support sessions are brief and focused on helping users get the most out of the program.
For those willing and able to try self-guided support, users can work independently through the program at their own pace. People will be able to seamlessly switch from self-guided to guided therapy so the care is personal, flexible and responsive. Activities and resources can be printed to use again.
Through the program users will work through:
- Practical, evidence-based strategies
- Structured self-help resources such as exercises and worksheets
- Tools and strategies for everyday life
What does Medicare Mental Health Check In offer?
Through the Medicare Mental Health Check In programs users can expect to:
- Set small goals to improve wellbeing
- Learn new skills
- Practice techniques between sessions
- Notice small improvements as things begin to feel easier
- Build confidence in how to take care of their wellbeing
The program aims to teach users how to:
- Break tasks into small, manageable steps
- Calm their body through slow, steady breathing
- Interrupt worry or overthinking
- Create simple routines that support their wellbeing
- Gently approach things they have been avoiding
- Use grounding techniques when things feel overwhelming
- Build small habits that help them feel more in control
Who is Medicare Mental Health Check In for?
Medicare Mental Health Check In will support people who are:
- Aged 16 years or older
- Living in Australia
- Experiencing, or at risk of experiencing mild mental health challenges or transient distress.
- able to benefit from LiCBT
LiCBT has been shown to support people with mild symptoms of anxiety of depression. By encouraging people to seek help early, Medicare Mental Health Check In can help them manage their mental health and wellbeing before their challenges get worse.
The Medicare Mental Health Check In website has resources translated for culturally and linguistically diverse communities. It will also have access to interpreting services available in more than 150 languages for those that need it.
Medicare Mental Health Check In is not suitable for people seeking emergency or crisis support, seeking urgent or ongoing mental health care or long-term psychotherapy, or seeking medical treatment for severe or complex conditions or a formal diagnostic assessment.
Benefits of Medicare Mental Health Check In
Medicare Mental Health Check In is a national, free service. It is:
- Completely free, with no out-of-pocket costs at any point.
- Available without a diagnosis or GP referral
- Accessible, so users can use it online any time, any place.
- Evidence-based, using approaches proven to help.
- Guided by qualified mental health practitioners to give users extra support, and keep them on track.
How can Health Practitioners use Medicare Mental Health Check In?
Health practitioners can use Medicare Mental Health Check In as a free, evidence‑based digital support option for people with emerging mental health concerns to help them manage their mental health and wellbeing before their challenges get worse. As health professionals, you will play a key role in raising awareness of Medicare Mental Health Check In, especially in your community. You are encouraged to have conversations with suitable patients to let them know about the free service.
Who is delivering Medicare Mental Health Check In?
St Vincent’s Health Australia (SVHA) is delivering Medicare Mental Health Check In on behalf of the Australian Government. SVHA have experience delivering evidence-based digital mental health support with the THIS WAY UP psychological intervention and wellbeing programs.
Is there a cost to use Medicare Mental Health Check In?
Medicare Mental Health Check In is free to access and use at any time for people aged 16 years and older living in Australia.
How to access Medicare Mental Health Check In?
To access Medicare Mental Health Check In, people can call Medicare Mental Health first on 1800 595 212 (between 8:30am and 5pm weekdays, except public holidays) for a free chat with a trained professional to determine if this is the right service for them. Users to not need a referral or diagnosis to access the service.
People can also visit the Medicare Mental Health Check In website to explore the service, understand what it offers and access a range of mental health resources at https://www.medicarementalhealthcheckin.gov.au/.
Medicare Mental Health Check In Evidence
Medicare Mental Health Check In is informed by the United Kingdom’s National Health Service Talking Therapies program. The Black Dog Institute supported adaptation of program materials to fit the Australian context and local need. The service meets the Australian Government standards for safe and high quality care, through the National Safety and Quality Digital Mental Health Standards.
LiCBT is a brief, structured, and guided self‑help version of CBT that can address barriers of traditional CBT such as wait times, cost, location, or time commitments. It is designed for people experiencing mild to moderate symptoms of anxiety and depression. LiCBT is typically delivered with support and guidance from trained practitioners (i.e., practitioner-assisted) within a stepped care model, with a focus on skill‑building, self‑management, and early intervention.
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