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Accessing psychiatric services

Most regions of Melbourne have, or soon will have, comprehensive community psychiatric services, including a Crisis Assessment Team (CAT), a long-term support and treatment team, and clinic based services. CAT and other services may be contacted though local psychiatric clinics (refer to Table 6).

Advice:

When making referrals to these psychiatric services for prompt action, please emphasise:

• Safety concerns (whether you consider the person poses a danger to themselves or others).
• Presence of mood disturbance such as depression or mania.
• Presence of 'psychotic' symptoms (for example delusions or hallucinations).

If emphasis is placed on problems of substance abuse, personality disorder, or antisocial behaviour, referral is less likely to be successful, as these problem areas fall outside the mainstream areas of psychiatry. Note any comments made to you by the clinic, as well as the contact person's name, the estimated response time if a CAT is to attend, and the arrangements for feedback of information to the referring person. Note that a client has a right to see a psychiatrist if requested. Request advice on the procedure to follow if attendance by the CAT may be delayed.