- Ambulance co-response service for mental healthexpands to north and south metropolitan areas by tripling the fleet of fit-for-purpose vehicles
- Service provides crisis intervention, clinical care and health system navigation support to people experiencing a mental health emergency
- $7.9 million invested to help support and provide mental health crisis care in community settings to help reduce unnecessary emergency department presentations
The State Government continues to boost support and care for people experiencing mental health issues, with the Ambulance Mental Health Co-Response service expanding to provide coverage to East, North and South Metropolitan Health Service catchment areas.
The service is operated through a partnership between the Mental Health Commission, Department of Health, St John WA and North, South and East Metropolitan Health Services.
Service expansion means more people experiencing a mental health crisis will be able to access timely crisis care, intervention and support in the right setting.
The service continues to offer two main elements:
- virtual triage, assessment and urgent careto Triple Zero (000) callers aged 16 years and above, where mental health is the primary cause for concern; and
- a mobile response team comprising of dedicated mental health clinicians and paramedics to provide specialised care for people experiencing a mental health emergency in the community.
The mobile response teams previously had access to one fit-for-purpose vehicle, but this commitment from the State Government triples this capacity to a total of three vehicles.
The $7.9 million investment was allocated in the 2024/2025 State Budget.
As stated by Mental Health and Health Minister Meredith Hammat:
"The expansion of this service will provide early intervention across the metropolitan area and help more people experiencing a mental health crisis to receive care in the best setting for them.
"The ambulance co-response service has allowed the State Government to help more people, their carers and families access the right care at the right time and in the right place.
"This service is a strong example of collaboration across services and community groups to help ensure appropriate, safe and compassionate support and care for the community."
